I have a weird one here - so my son has a honda civic, when it was purchased (by my sister, she sold my son the car years later) an anti theft device was installed - its some sort of doohickey inside the car that my son has to hold a key tab thingy in front of before he can start the car (he holds the tab in front of it, it beeps, then he has a window of time to start the car). Sooo, he has lost his keys with the tab thing on it, I have a second key, but not a second tab, I'm trying to figure out what this anti theft system might be called, so I can figure out who to call to get direction on dismanteling it. A while back, some idiot jerk stole all the paperwork out of my sons glovebox, so I have no idea who to call. Does my vague description of the device ring any bells? I'm just needing to know what this device might be called, to clarify, this is NOT a key fob thing that has a bunch of buttons on it, this is just a small tabpiece on a key chain that is held in front of an installed (hidden) device that allows the car to be started. Yikes this sounds confusing, does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Have you taken the device off and examined it on the underside for any info ? Do you have a picture you could post ?

I'm not familiar with the system that requires a tab to enable start-up but an experienced technician given the time can remove that system and restore it to operate like it was factory original (which I prefer and recommend)

Problem solved - he found his stupid keys with the tab thing. (He had come home past his curfew, then hidden them because he thought I would take them from him. He forgot where he hid them :/) I will send a picture of the tab and the device as best I can - the 'device' (I keep calling it that because I'm not sure what else to call it... ) is truly hidden in the car - you can't really see it, all that is exposed looks like a piece of Velcro down by where the right knee of the driver would be, that is what you hold the tab thing in front of until it beeps... it's a weird set up...

What happens when you try to use the ignition key without activating it first? Does the ignition come on but it does not start (turn over) or does the ignition not come on at all ?

Im glad he found the fob but really you should remove this thing or atleast create a bypass just in case some day the fob is lost or no longer functions.

I know I said I would post a picture, but - even better - I found the actual description and trade name of the weird device thing I was talking about. It's called 'Magic Start'. A pain in the a-s-s if you lose the 'fob' thing...
AUTO AND RV DEALER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES