Most used cars come with surprises—some good, some decidedly less so. One woman who recently bought a Honda CR-V got a surprise that can only be described as bizarre. There was a second ignition hidden inside the dashboard.
Naturally, she was at a loss for world.
TikTok creator Kenny Piper (@kenny.piper) posted photos of her Honda CR-V and the second ignition under the dashboard. There's a key held into the ignition by a zip tie.
"Not everyone can have just one ignition," she wrote jokingly in the photo's text overlay. "Some have to have two."
Why Is There A Second Ignition Switch Under The Dashboard?
While Piper was taken aback, there's a perfectly logical reason why her CR-V had a second ignition. Third and fourth generation Honda CR-V's have an ignition switch assembly responsible for getting the car started and turning on its electrical systems. It features the main ignition that most people are familiar with and also an electronic ignition switch behind that.
Basically, when you turn the key, you rotate a lock cylinder, which then moves the electronic switch into different positions that then send signals to the car’s computer so it can turn on the systems necessary for the car to start.
The car also comes with an anti-theft immobilizer system that will prevent the car from starting unless there is a key inside with the proper chip so the system can recognize it. That will generally mean getting the system reprogrammed and a new set of keys when you make an ignition switch assembly swap.
Gallery: 2025 Honda CR-V e:FCEV
What Happens When You Change An Ignition Switch On A CR-V?
Honda CR-V owners discussed this topic in an Owner’s Club forum thread in 2023. The original poster asked, “For those who have replaced an ignition switch, did you have to do anything with the immobilizer, or was it as simple as just replacing the hardware?”
“I replaced our ignition switch while firing the parts cannon at a no-crank issue I had, refusing to believe the month-old ‘rebuilt’ starter had failed,” wrote one person. “It was a simple job, two screws. Don’t think I even disconnected the battery.”
A Reddit user posted to r/crv a year ago to talk about the ignition switch replacement they had done on their 2008 CR-V. “So I’ve been having this buzzing sound when starting my ‘08 CR-V and noticed that I need to push the key harder for my car to start,” the person wrote. “If not it would just do the ‘bzzz’ sound. I had it checked and the mechanic told me it needs a new ignition switch.”
The person said they watched some videos and planned to do the job themselves, but they just wanted to make sure they weren’t going to need a dealership reprogram or something at the end of the job. “Nah, that stuff is all on the other side of the ignition assembly,” wrote one person claiming to be a Honda tech. “This is just the electrical contact, not the immobilizer or key cylinder.”
Motor1 contacted Piper via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We'll update this if she responds.
