How Do You Start a Honda Fit With a Dead Key Fob?

How do you start a Honda Fit with a dead key fob? The procedure depends on the ignition system. On a Fit with Smart Entry and push-button start, press the brake, touch the back of the remote to the ENGINE START/STOP button when it flashes, then press the button. On a Fit with a conventional ignition key, use the mechanical key normally; a dead remote battery usually affects remote locking, not the immobilizer chip.

Push-Button Start Procedure

1. Use the mechanical key inside the remote to unlock the driver’s door if necessary.
2. Enter the vehicle with the remote.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal. On a manual-transmission model, also press the clutch.
4. When instructed by the display, touch the back of the remote to the ENGINE START/STOP button.
5. While the button is active, press it to start the engine.

This temporary procedure lets the vehicle detect the remote even when its button battery is weak. Replace the remote battery afterward using the size specified for your remote.

Conventional Ignition-Key Models

If your Fit uses a physical ignition key, unlock the door with the mechanical key and start the engine normally. The remote-locking battery and the immobilizer transponder are separate functions. If the immobilizer indicator flashes or the engine will not start, try the spare programmed key and arrange diagnosis rather than forcing the ignition.

What Not to Do

• Do not jump-start the car merely because the key-fob battery is weak. A jump-start is appropriate only when the vehicle’s 12-volt battery is discharged.
• Do not assume every Fit has push-button start.
• Do not replace immobilizer or starter parts without diagnosis.

If the Engine Still Will Not Start

Check whether the instrument panel powers on, whether the 12-volt battery is weak, whether the brake or clutch pedal is fully depressed, and whether an immobilizer or starter-system warning appears. Try the spare programmed key if available. Persistent starting or smart-entry warnings require professional diagnosis.

Source

• American Honda: 2020 Fit Owner’s Manual

Reviewed by the AutoZonic Editorial Team on August 4, 2026.