Acura RL is a full size luxury car manufactured in Japan from 1996 until 2012. The 2005 RL has a proximity or “prox” key fob. It is not possible to overstate the importance of this major innovation. The prox key fob revolutionized the way automobiles are operated. The driver simply need touch the door handle to lock or unlock the car if a registered key fob is in the proximity. If a registered key fob is inside the car, the driver could start the vehicle by turning the ignition twist knob. Driver #1 and #2 designated key fob could “remember" two individual driver's setting such as seating position, mirror adjustments etc. 2005 was also the best year for sales, a little more that 17,000 new RLs found their way onto American roadways. RL won many awards: the most reliable luxury sedan and a five star (the highest) crash safety rating to name just two.  Despite innovations and awards, in seventeen years Acura sold only 156,000 RLs in the states. By way of contrast, 156,000 TLs were sold in the two years from 2004 to 2005. In 2011 Acura upgraded the automatic transmission improving fuel efficiency. Acura sold 1100 RLs and 31,000 TLs in 2011.

Legend and Integra were the first two models offered by Acura to compete in the US luxury auto market in 1986. At one point Legend had greater name recognition than Acura. Legend was competitive with comparable models from BMW, Cadillac, Lincoln and Mercedes. A decade later, Acura changed the name Legend to RL. The decision to rename Legend is considered by some to be as great a blunder as the name changes of Taurus to 500 or Datsun to Nissan. RL is short for Refined Luxury. RL was succeeded by RLX in 2013.

If you are in the market for a used car, you owe it to yourself to check out RL. From backup cameras to blue tooth technology, if Acura offered it, RL had it. You can purchase one for a fraction of the original 50K MSRP. RL was truly ahead of its time. It was the Rodney Dangerfield of luxury cars. RL didn’t get anywhere near the respect it deserved.

(1996-2004) RL used Honda Type 1A or 1C keyed ignition system. RLs were among the first cars in the US to use anti-theft transponder technology. The transponder key used was (Ilco part number HD106-PT), which was embedded with the Megamos (13) Fixed Code chip. The non-transponder service key was (Ilco part number HD103). If all keys are lost the immobilizer may need to be replaced. The key code series is 5001-8442.

(2005-2009) RL the transponder key used was (Ilco part number HD111-PT), which was embedded with the Philips (46) Encrypted System. The non-transponder service key was (Ilco part number HD103). The key code series is 5001-8442.

(2005-2012) RL utilizes a proximity key fob (72147-SJA-A01 - Driver #1  72147-SJA-A11 - Driver #2) with an emergency key (35111-SJA-305). The emergency key and proximity key fob are programmed separately. If a registered key fob is inside the car, turning the ignition twist knob can start the vehicle. If the battery in the key fob dies, the emergency key can be inserted into the ignition twist knob to start the vehicle. Key fobs and emergency keys can be programmed for this vehicle with a diagnostic tool.

ikeyfob.com has made transponder keys,  key and remote combos, prox and smart keys. Located in Chillum Shopping Center in Hyattsville MD, ikeyfob.com is near Silver Spring, Laurel and Kensington.