Honda Life Won't Stay Running: Anti-Theft System Alert

I had a similar issue with my 2011 Honda Fit (gasoline engine) just a few months back. The symptoms matched yours exactly, cranking but either no start or brief start then die. After taking it to the garage, turned out the immobilizer system was the culprit. The key transponder wasn't communicating properly with the car's computer. The technician had to reprogram the key and reset the immobilizer system. It wasn't a major mechanical issue, but definitely needed proper diagnostic equipment to fix. They also checked the fuel pump and spark plugs while at it, but those were working fine. The whole key reprogramming process took about an hour. Hope this helps point you in the right direction. Just make sure whoever works on it has experience with Honda's security systems.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! This sounds exactly like what I went through. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much the key reprogramming ended up costing you? Also, has everything been working smoothly since the fix? Just want to make sure it's a long-term solution before I head to a shop.

Hey there! Glad I could help out! Yes, everything has been working perfectly fine since I got it fixed. The key and immobilizer are now working like a charm, no more lock malfunctions or starting issues with my Fit. The total bill came to 45€ for the key reprogramming work, which wasn't too bad considering how frustrating the problem was! I'd say it's definitely worth getting it checked out because these security system issues don't typically fix themselves. It's been about three months now since I had mine done and I haven't had a single problem since. The car starts up perfectly every time, just like it should. Trust me, once you get it sorted, you'll be so relieved. It's such a simple fix for what seems like a major headache at first. Just make sure you find someone who knows their way around Honda's security systems and you should be good to go!

Thanks so much for the detailed info! I finally took my car to a mechanic yesterday. You were spot on, it was the immobilizer system acting up. The mechanic hooked it up to their diagnostic computer and found that my key needed reprogramming. Only cost me around 50 bucks and an hour of my time. What a relief! The car's running perfectly now. It starts right up every time, no more of that frustrating cranking and dying. Honestly, I feel a bit silly for putting it off for so long. The mechanic I found was really professional too, explained everything clearly and didn't try to upsell me on stuff I didn't need. Thanks again for sharing your experience. You saved me from a lot more headache and possibly paying for unnecessary repairs. Really appreciate the help!