1997 ACURA NSX ignition

Immobilizer Syste m
Descriptio n
The vehicl e i s equippe d wit h a n immobilize r syste m tha t wil l disabl e th e vehicl e unles s th e prope r ignitio n ke y i s used .
Thi s syste m consist s o f a transponde r locate d i n th e ignitio n key , a receiver , a contro l unit , a n indicato r light , an d th e ECM .
Th e vehicl e ha s tw o kind s o f keys .
BLAC K
GRAY
The maste r ke y i s for :
— ignitio n switch .
— doo r locks .
— trun k lock .
— glov e bo x lock .
Th e vale t ke y i s for :
— ignitio n switch .
— doo r locks .
Th e learnin g ke y i s fo r rewritin g th e immobilize r sys -
tem.
NOTE : Thi s ke y canno t star t th e engine ; d o no t us e i t
excep t fo r rewritin g th e system . I f someon e trie s t o
star t th e engin e wit h th e learnin g key , al l maste r an d
vale t key s mus t b e relearned .
Whe n th e ke y i s inserte d i n th e ignitio n an d turne d t o th e (II ) position , th e immobilize r contro l uni t send s powe r t o th e
transponde r throug h th e receiver .
Th e transponde r the n send s a code d signa l bac k throug h th e receive r t o th e contro l unit .
Th e contro l uni t i n tur n signal s th e ECM , a s wel l a s th e starte r cu t relay .
RED
IMMOBILIZE R RECEIVE R
IGNITION KE Y(Has built-i n transponder )
23-330ProCarManuals.com

IGNITION SWITCH

PROPER KEY

INSERTED
INDICATOR

LIGHT

WRONG KEY

INSERTED
INDICATOR

LIGHT
If the proper key has been used, the starter cut relay will be energized, and the ECM will energize the fuel supply sys-

tem. The immobilizer indicator light in the gauge assembly will simultaneously come on for about two seconds, then

go off, thereby signaling that the immobilizer unit has recognized the code sent by the transponder.

If a key has been used whose code was not received or recognized by the unit, or which was not approved by Acura,

the indicator light will come on for about two seconds, then it will blink continuously.

If the ignition switch is turned OFF, the indicator will blink for about five seconds to signal that the unit has been set

correctly, then the indicator will go off.

IMMOBILIZER INDICATOR LIGHT BLINKING PATTERN:ProCarManuals.com

Immobilizer Syste m
Contro l Uni t Inpu t Tes t
1. Remov e th e dashboar d lowe r cove r an d dashboar d
lowe r pa d (se e pag e 23-73 ).
2 . Remov e th e dashboar d brac e (se e pag e 23-73 ).
3 Disconnec t th e 8 P connecto r "A " fro m th e immobi -
lize r contro l unit .
4 . Inspec t th e connecto r an d socke t terminal s t o b e
sur e the y ar e al l makin g goo d contact .
I f th e terminal s ar e bent , loose , o r corroded , repai r
the m a s necessary , an d rechec k th e system .
I f th e terminal s loo k OK , mak e th e followin g
inpu t test s a t th e connector .
— If an y tes t indicate s a problem , fin d an d cor -
rec t th e cause , the n rechec k th e system .
— If al l th e inpu t test s prov e OK , chec k th e immo -
bilize r receive r an d transponder .IMMOBILIZER CONTRO L UNI T
8 P CONNECTO R
"A"
Vie w fro m
wir e side
Wir e Test conditio n Test: Desire d result s
Possible caus e if resul t i s no t obtaine d
YEL/BLU
GRY
BLK/GR N
BLK/YEL
PNK
BR N
GRN/RE D
BLK
Unde r al l condition s
M/T : Wit h clutc h peda l
depresse d
A/T: Shif t leve r i n
or
Ignitio n switc h a t
STAR T (III )
Ignitio n switc h O N (II )
Unde r al l condition s
Unde r al l condition s
Ignition switc h OF F
Unde r al l condition sChec
k fo r voltag e t o ground :
Ther e shoul d b e batter y voltage .
Chec k fo r continuit y t o ground :
Ther e shoul d b e continuity .
Chec k fo r voltag e t o ground :
Ther e shoul d b e batter y voltage .
Chec k fo r voltag e t o ground :
Ther e shoul d b e batter y voltage .
Attac h t o ground :
Th e immobilize r indicato r ligh t
shoul d com e on .
*Chec k fo r continuit y betwee n th e
No . 6 termina l an d EC M 26 P (C484 )
connecto r No . 3 terminal .
Ther e shoul d b e continuity .
Chec k fo r continuit y t o ground :
Ther e shoul d b e continuit y wit h th e
parkin g brak e leve r u p an d n o
continuit y wit h th e leve r down .
Chec k fo r continuit y t o ground :
Ther e shoul d b e continuity . •
Blow n No . 1 8 (2 0 A ) fus e
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
• Fault y clutc h interloc k switc h
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
• Fault y A/ T gea r positio n switc h
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
• Fault y starte r cu t rela y
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
• Blow n No . 2 (1 5 A ) fus e
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
• Blow n No . 3 3 (7. 5 A ) fus e
• Blow n bul b
• Fault y gaug e circui t
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
• Fault y parkin g brak e switc h
• A n ope n o r shor t i n th e wir e
• Fault y brak e flui d leve l switc h
• Poo r groun d (G401 , G402 , G403 )
• A n ope n i n th e wir e
* : Us e th e backprobin g metho d explaine d i n sectio n 11 .
23-33 4ProCarManuals.com

Immobilizer Receiver and Transponder (Key) Test

IMMOBILIZER

CONTROL

UNIT

Does the immobilizer indi-

cator blink?
Perform the control unit input

test.

Try to start the engine with another

master key or valet key from this

vehicle.

Does the engine start?
Replace the transponder (igni-

tion key).

3P CONNECTOR

"B"

Does the engine crank?

Rewrite the immobilizer control

unit and the ECM with the PGM

Tester.
Check for an open in the BRN

wire between the immobilizer

control unit and the ECM. If the

wire is OK, rewrite the ECM with

the PGM Tester.

Does the engine start?

Immobilizer system is OK now.

Wire side of

female terminals

Is there continuity?
Short in the shielded wires

between the immobilizer receiver

and the immobilizer control unit.

Replace the wire harness.

Measure resistance between the

B1 and B3 terminals of the 3P con-

nector.

Is there about 15 ohms?
Faulty receiver or open in the

shielded wires between the immo-

bilizer receiver and immobilizer

control unit.

Replace the immobilizer control

unit.
1. Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

2. Check that the immobilizer

indicator light starts blinking

after two seconds.

1. Turn the ignition switch OFF.

2. Disconnect the 3P connector

"B" from the immobilizer con-

trol unit.

3. Check for continuity between

the B1 and B2, and the B3 and

B2 terminals of the 3P connec-

tor.ProCarManuals.com

Immobilizer Syste m
Immobilize r Receive r Replacemen t
1. Remov e th e dashboar d lowe r cove r an d dashboar d
lowe r pa d (se e pag e 23-73 ).
2 . Remov e th e dashboar d brac e (se e pag e 23-73 ).
3 . Disconnec t th e 3 P connecto r fro m th e immobilize r
contro l unit . Thi s harnes s i s shielde d an d serve s a s
a communicatio n link ; b e carefu l no t t o damag e it .
4 . Remov e th e scre w fro m th e immobilize r receiver ,
then remov e th e receive r fro m th e ignitio n ke y
cylinder .
IMMOBILIZE R RECEIVE R
IGNITION KEYCYLINDE R
5. Instal l th e ne w immobilize r receive r i n th e revers e
orde r o f removal .
6 . Afte r replacement , chec k th e immobilize r system .
ProCarManuals.com

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

Steering-related Precautions

Steering Wheel and Cable Reel Alignment:

NOTE: To avoid misalignment of the steering wheel

or airbag on reassembly, make sure the wheels are

turned straight ahead before removing the steering

wheel.

Rotate the cable reel clockwise unit it stops.

Then rotate it counterclockwise (approximately two

turns) until:

—The yellow gear tooth lines up with the mark on

the cover.

—The arrow on the cable reel label points straight up.

ARROW

MARK

YELLOW GEAR TOOTH

ALIGNMENT MARK
Steering Column Removal:

CAUTION:

• Before removing the steering column, first

disconnect the connector between the cable reel

and the SRS main harness.

• If the steering column is going to be removed

without dismounting the steering wheel, lock the

steering by turning the ignition key to 0-LOCK

position or remove the key from the ignition so

that the steering wheel will not turn.

SRS MAIN

HARNESS

CABLE REEL

CONNECTOR

HOLDER

Steering wheel:

Do not replace the original steering wheel with any

other design, since it will make it impossible to pro-

perly install the airbag (only use genuine Honda

replacement parts).

After reassembly confirm that the wheels are still

turned straight ahead and that the steering wheel

spoke angle is correct. If minor spoke angle adjust-

ment is necessary, do so only by adjusting the tie-rods,

not by removing and repositioning the steering wheel.
CABLE REELProCarManuals.com

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

SRS Unit Assembly Installation

CAUTION: Be sure to install the SRS wiring so that it is

not pinched or interfering with other car parts.

1. Install the SRS unit.

TORX BOLTS 6 mm

9.8 N-m (1.0 kgf-m, 7.2 Ibf-ft)

Replace.

Use a Torx T30 bit

TORX BOLTS 6 mm

9.8 N-m (1.0 kgf-m, 7.2 Ibf-ft)

Replace.

Use a Torx T30 bit

2. Clip the SRS main harness into the harness holder,

then connect the SRS main harness 18P connec-

tor to the SRS unit; push it into position until it

clicks.

3. Install the carpet.
4. Remove the short connectors (RED) from the pas-

senger's airbag, and remove the SRS Service

Connector from the SRS main harness.

5. Reconnect the passenger's airbag 3P connector to

the SRS main harness 3P connector, then reinstall

the glove box.

6. Remove the short connector (RED) from the driver's

airbag, and remove the SRS Service Connector

from the cable reel.

7. Reconnect the driver's airbag 3P connector to the

cable reel 3P connector. Attach the short connec-

tor (RED) to the access panel, then reinstall the

panel on the steering wheel.

8. Remove the short connectors (RED) from both seat

belt tensioners, then attach the short connectors

(RED) to their holders.

9. Reconnect the floor wire harness 3P connectors to

the driver's and passenger's belt tensioners.

10. Reconnect the battery positive cable, then the

negative cable.

11. After installing the SRS unit, confirm proper system

operation:

Turn the ignition switch ON (II); the SRS indicator

light should come on for about six seconds and

then go off.ProCarManuals.com