So I have a honda fit 2016, and I cannot unlock/lock doors, start the engine without pressing the started with started with the fob keys. The Battery light of my car battery isn't lit and as I mentioned previously i am only able to start it when I press the started with the actual Fob key. I changed the batteries for both my fobs and same issue. I read somewhere I may have to reprogram the fob. Also i am still not rulling out that my car battery is dead? Probably not those since I can start it with method stated above.

I started noticing an issue like a year ago with the starter not being responsive. It got progressively worse until final now it will not start without the FOB key method. I initially thought it was my car battery since i jumped it and it was able to start without the fob key method but now I'm just confused to what it could be. any info would be great thanks

 

Welcome to the forum!

We've heard all kinds of problems with early starter failure on pushbutton start models, both in and out of warranty. That's what I suspect your problem is, or perhaps a starter interlock if it's not the actual starter.

Honda has been all over the place as far as goodwill toward starter repairs out of warranty. I recommend contacting Honda corporate before taking it to a dealer. Dealers have been known to charge a $125 diagnostic fee to say, yep, it's the starter.

If indeed it is the starter, I also recommend going out of the Honda dealership network to repair. No sense giving them the parts business as well on a faulty design of theirs.

 

Thanks for the quick response. I will contact honda corporate. Thanks

 

You're welcome. Let us know how it works out. We need as many data points as possible to determine Honda's level of goodwill toward premature pushbutton starter failures.

 

Okay. But also today, I tried to start my car pushing my fob key to the starter like usual. But it took like about 30 tries. I better hurry up!

 

I find this description challenging:

"I cannot unlock/lock doors, start the engine without pressing the started with started with the fob keys."

Huh?

Plus, I don't think it is the starter. Because the vehicle is starting. Plus your doors are sometimes not unlocking, which would suggest to me it's communication between the fob, and the system. Your doors not unlocking would have nothing to do with your starter.

Have you tried something as simple as changing the batteries in your fob?

Is the problem consistent? That is does this failure occur everywhere you go? That would rule out some type of outside radio interference.

New Cell Phone? Some people have reported trouble keeping the Cell Phone and Fob too close together.

I could be wrong...the usual caveat. But I'm leaning towards a communication problem between fob and system and not physical starter failure.

 

Sorry about the confusion, The key is not responsive at all unlocking/unlocking. When I'm in the car with the key it says "no key detected". But I am however able to start the car using this method:


Also I can't start the car just by pressing the starter without using this method.

This has pretty much been working up until last night as it took 15-20 tries for this to work (usually just one or two). I did change the fob battery. I'm thinking of maybe changing it again since i bought the battery a few years ago. It was brand new though so it probably isn't the issue (but hopefully it is).

Not a new cell phone.

Anyways hope that sheds some light. wdy think?

 

I would try a brand new battery, that hasn't been sitting for two years.

 

I agree. The first time I had my ‘16 fob battery changed it only lasted a month. Then I had the dealer do it again (they did it for free because it had only been 3 or 4 weeks) and it’s been a year and it’s still going strong. The young lady behind the counter told me it’s a crap chute because they have no idea how long the batteries were in storage before they open them up to put them in the remotes.

 

Okay so I changed the car battery, autozone checked and said it was bad. I also replaced the fob battery with a brand new one from Walgreen. same issue...



I'm thinking it is an issue with reprogramming the battery or perhaps the starter? But what would the starter have to do with the inability to lock/unlock the door? Perhaps the former is the case. Anyone know of a way to get this reprogrammed cheaper than the dealership?

 

Have you tried disconnecting the battery to the car for a few minutes? Maybe just needs a good old fashioned reboot?

 

Well i changed a whole new battery today. The car was without a battery for at least a few minutes. Probably like 5. That long enough?

 

There is no such thing as "reprogramming the starter, or the battery"...do you mean reprogram the fob?

In my original post, I say I don't think the problem is with the physical starter itself because A: you can make the vehicle start, and B. The doors not locking or unlocking would have nothing to do with the starter. Which is why I leaned towards it being a communication problem between your fob and the system.

If you can still get the vehicle to start, and the doors do occasionally lock/unlock using the fob, then I don't think it needs reprogramming. If it needed reprogramming I think it would NEVER work. Even using the hold the fob near the starter method. If the problem is intermittent...then my guess is still a problem with communication.

If it's not with the fob...sender...then it's with the receiving end of the system.
I'm afraid at this point it get's more complicated and potentially more expensive.

Good Luck.