Changing Key Battery

[tfshea]

Wow. Just finished installing new battery for 05 Pilot key. Should have looked online for some tips prior to starting. Stripped the phillips screw head & had to drill it out (carefully). Didn't get all of it, but enough to pry the plastic key housing apart and install a new battery. Reused the key housing and it fit tightly. In lieu of the phillips screw, used some black electrical tape neatly on both sides. Looks fine and most importantly, it works.

Can see why the dealer was not enthusiastic about installing a new battery. Read somewhere that Honda puts some 'liquid tightener' on the phillips screw. That could explain the problem with unscrewing it.

Cheers/TS

[humanoid]

Yeah, the factory folks use blue Loctite on the screws... really????

[tfshea]

And the fix is?.....

[theirishscion]

Originally Posted by tfshea

And the fix is?.....

Use exactly the correct size philips screwdriver, apply significant downforce before you begin to turn it, and be prepared for a screw that really doesn't want to come out. If you're expecting a fight, you should do just fine as the blue Loctite used is designed to be removable when cold.

Their real worry is that the screw falls unnoticed when in use. I wonder if they sell just the screw as a spare part.

[moda_way]

I used to modify the Acura key + fob into an Accord integrated key. You need to get a #00 or #0 Phillips to do it and as previously stated, a lot of down force.

For those right-handed folks:
- Use a hair dryer to warm the screw area up (not hot, just warm)
- Place key in palm of left hand
- Take #00 or #0 phillips screw driver (from a watch battery set) and put direct force down onto screw
- Use a very slow motion to unscrew until thread lock releases
- When reinstalling, once the screw bites down, ever so slightly snug. Stripping the screw can occur on either side (removal, installation) as it is a very weak head.