July 2022
Stumbled upon your amazing channel - I'm not in the market yet for a car but at this point I am scanning the horizon - loved your used cars to buy vid from 2019 - very helpful! Now onto my question:
My car: Honda Civic LX coupe 2003, automatic, 209,000 miles. I am the original owner, I bought it new. I use it to commute to work.
A few years ago my original keys that I still have and use at least for the engine to start, stopped working on the locks. The keys would get stuck in my driver side and passenger side lock. Eventually they were not able to to be inserted at all. The lock on the driver side eventually stopped working/locking, even using the auto switch. The trunk lock locks but also doesn't accept the key. The passenger side door does lock with the switch or with me pushing it down. None of the three door locks accept the keys. The one thing still accepting the key is the ignition, thankfully. But for the most part my car sits anywhere it is parked, unlocked.
My car runs fantastically, so I have been just making sure not to leave anything in my car - I even have my registration in my wallet. I live just outside a crime filled city (that I love), so of course my car has been rifled through a bit (like 4x) but there's nothing to take, even in the trunk. Anyway, I'm lucky that the car hasn't been outright stolen I guess, but it isn't too slick so maybe that is why. I called around to different people to replace the lock, at least on the driver side - I don't care about the passenger or the trunk door. These lock. But it is starting to put a damper on any travel plans - like doing a motor trip to another crime ridden city or elsewhere. I'm a bit more paranoid for some reason about traveling in it.
No locksmith said they'd fix it - with the exception of a dealer and it started to sound very very expensive.
On Amazon then, I found a replacement Honda lock with keys. I'm definitely not handy or prepared to do ANY of this kind of replace the lock stuff myself, but I'm wondering who would? Should I call the dealer back with a, I have the parts can you replace this please? From what I understand it would mean using a special key on that driver door, but that is ok, I'm good with keeping keys a loong time. But is anything else going to be a huge problem - like will the other original keys not start the engine? Is it worth going through all this? THANK YOU THANK YOU for some advice. Very much enjoy your recently discovered channel and am now recommending it to pals.
RMH
With the exception of the ignition switch, it sounds like the other lock cylinders are broken or worn out. Any locksmith can re-key new ones to match your old one, but replacing them in the doors and hatch is a very labor intensive job. You could try spraying a designated lock lubricant or WD40 into the lock cylinders to see if it loosens them up. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
