Is it possible to program a 97 Honda civic keyless entry after putting in a new stereo?

Question

I replaced the stereo in my 97 Honda civic and the keyless entry was not working (knew that would happen), however I have had Honda service men and others in the auto business tell me that you can reprogam the keyless entry if the old stereo is grounded (not sure I understand). Anyway it is, but no one seems to be able to program the keyless entry (not to say that they printed the instructions for a 97 Honda CR-V, which my car is not and no one noticed this -I was not there when this happened). Anyway can I reprogram it?

Answer 1

What the service people are telling you is that if you replaced the original radio with a non-Honda radio, then you have to have the original radio re-connected to the car in order to program the remotes. That means connecting the radio to a 12 volt power source, a ground and an antenna. Whoever put the new radio in should be able to do this. The keyless entry works off of a radio signal that it sends to the control unit for the keyless entry but on that year Civic the programming is done through the valet/disarm button on the original radio. If the original radio was replaced because it didn't work (won't turn on) then you're out of luck with the remote programming unless you can find another original radio to do this with. here's the Honda procedure to program the remotes using the original radio

Programming the Transmitter
NOTES:
• The system accepts up to four transmitters.
• Entering the programming mode cancels all learned
transmitter codes, so none of the previously
programmed transmitters will work. You must
reprogram all the transmitters once you’re in the
programming mode.
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
2. Press and hold the Valet-Disarm
button on the radio (between the
AM/FM and CD/TAPE buttons) to
enter the programming mode.
(Continue to hold the button
during this procedure, or
programming will be cancelled.)
Check that the power door locks
cycle to confirm that you’re in the
programming mode.
3. Within 5 seconds, press the “Lock” or “Unlock”
button on the transmitter. Check that the power
door locks cycle to confirm that the code was
accepted.
4. Within 10 seconds, press the “Lock” or “Unlock”
button on each of the remaining transmitters.
5. After all the transmitters have been programmed,
release the Valet-Disarm button to exit
programming mode.