I just got a 2008 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan (4-Cylinder) last week and I have several questions. If some of y'all would be willing to try to help me with these issues, I would sincerely appreciate it


First, it only included 1 key and I would really like to get another one. Possibly, 2 or 3 more keys, depending on how expensive they are and how difficult it might be to program them. So, where would be the best place to get an additional key? And is it likely that I will be able to program a key, myself? If it's not something that I could do, how would I get the programming done? For the record, I live in a small town in Arizona and there is no Honda dealership here. The closest Honda dealership is probably 75 miles away, in the Phoenix area. So, if I could buy a key online and get it programmed, myself, that would be great.

Second, it did not include an owner's manual. I found some listed on eBay and Mercari, for around $20-$25, but it looks like there are several different manuals for the 2008 Accord. So, I don't know if I need to get a specific manual, for my EX-L?

Third, I would really like to try to install an aftermarket radio (if it wouldn't be a major job/inconvenience), so that I will be able to put in a stereo that has a USB port and easily-accessible Bluetooth, so that I can listen to music and podcasts from a USB thumb drive and be able to connect my Android phone. Apparently, my 2008 EX-L does have built-in Bluetooth, but I am not sure how to connect my phone to it. And I know that there is an Aux. input, located in the center console, and that there are options available (Bluetooth receivers/transmitters that plug in/connect through an Aux. cable/connector) for Bluetooth connection access, but I would really like to be able to have a stereo that has these options included. As for the factory speakers and subwoofer, they seem to be decent, but, if it wouldn't be a major job/inconvenience to try to upgrade them with aftermarket speakers, I'd like to try to find out more about doing that.

Also, with regards to the car's built-in Bluetooth connection, is it simple to connect a phone to it? If so, are there some simple instructions that someone would recommend?


Sorry for the long post and for asking so many questions. If anyone would like to reply and try to give me some helpful information, advice, recommendations or links, please know that it would be very much appreciated!

 

Here's the owners manuals, downloads are free if you're happy to view them on your computer. It should include the Bluetooth stuff.
Owner's Manual | 2008 Honda Accord Sedan | Honda Owners Site

For the key, you have to do several things...
1 - Buy the key blank, which may or may not save you money in the long run.
2 - Have the physical key cut to your car's lock cylinders.
3 - Have the car's immobilizer programmed to accept that new key (or keys).
4 - Program the remote locks to accept the new transmitter to unlock the doors.

You need some expensive software to do #3, so that doesn't make sense. But many locksmiths can do #2 & 3, sometimes cheaper than the dealer. Call around. Ask about buying your own blank key, because they might not want to do business that way.

There's a sequence of steps (I'll have to look for it...) that you can do to perform #4. I have the procedure for 1998-2002 but I'm not really sure whether it's the same for later years. I've posted it before, so searching our boards will probably find it. Or google...

Aftermarket audio systems are more difficult, because newer cars have other stuff (HVAC, etc) built into them. If nobody chimes in on that, maybe post that question over in our A/V Electronics section.

 

Thank you very much, for the reply. I sincerely appreciate it. I had thought that the owner's manual might be available online, but I forgot about checking in to that and didn't even end up looking to see if I could find it online. So, thank you, for going out of your way to share the link with me.


As for the extra key, would it be easier, if I just get a key, without a key fob? Or, are the instructions that you gave me, specifically, for just a key, which will still require that type of programming?

And you mention that this blank key option may/may not be cheaper in the long run, what is the other option, as opposed to buying a blank key? If the price difference is not significant, I don't mind spending a little more money, especially, if it can make the programming process much easier. And, if you had this 2008 EX-L and needed an additional key, what option would you choose?


As for the radio, I figured that adding an aftermarket stereo might be a difficult process, so I have been trying to find different, simpler options that may allow me to play music from a USB thumb drive.

I also wanted to ask about the built-in XM Radio that this 2008 Accord has. Do you know anything about that? I did not even think to ask about the XM Radio, because I didn't even realize that it had XM Radio included, until I had the car for a day, or two. And the XM Radio did pick up some channels (not all of the XM channels, though) and the sound was great; but, over the past few days, it seems like there are now even fewer channels available (which could mean that the previous owner's subscription expired, or that it was some sort of free trial period, that temporarily offered some additional channels). If I wanted to try to upgrade to an XM Radio subscription (if that's even still an option), would it be worth it, to use the built-in XM Radio service? Or, is the built-in technology now outdated?


One more thing (and I'm sorry for asking so many questions). This Accord has built-in navigation; is it worth using it? Is this service still accurate/up-to-date, considering that it is 13 years-old? And is there a way to update the navigation system? Or, would it be better, to just use Google Maps on my phone?


I am sorry for asking so many questions; but I was without a vehicle for around a month and-a-half, and I had to take a leave of absence from work, because of it, so I was anxious to get a vehicle and I was grateful to have found a nice vehicle that I could actually afford to buy. So, I didn't get to research the car very much, before buying it. Now that I actually own the car, though, I am trying to find out some information about it, so that I try to can get more familiar with it and, maybe, lean some things about it that I am not even aware of. i.e. the built-in XM Radio service. If there is anything else about this vehicle, that I might not know about (like, a backup camera?), if you/anyone would like to share some potentially helpful information about the 2008 EX-L with me, please know that I would definitely appreciate it. And thanks, again, for your reply and the information.

 

For the key(s), the alternative is to buy them from the shop doing the programming work. Some dealers & some mechanics don't like when a customer brings his own parts. I'm just guessing that some locksmiths feel the same way. I'd ask the question when you call around to find a locksmith who can do it.

I think your car wants the key with built-in remote-lock buttons. Then (when the car was new) there would also be a valet-key which does not open the trunk or glovebox. You might want one of those. It has to be programmed to the immobilizer.

XM radios will always receive something - some kind of basic channel that's just a sales-pitch to get you to buy a subscription. We've had XM, my wife likes it, but we haven't had it on a Honda... Check the owners manual for how to display the XM serial# because you'll need that to get your subscription started.

When we bought a new car, the free subscription included all channels, but that was Saab & Subaru. Probably Honda does the same thing. But I think XM occasionally makes a couple channels available to non-subscribers as a sales-pitch.