Car lock repair. Advice plz

terrylamps

Think someone has tried to break into my car (didn't succeed) as now when i put my key into the lock to unlock it it's not going in smoothly like it used to do and when i feel the keyhole it feels raised to one side like someone has stuck something in there to try to unlock it. What i want to know is, is there a way of fixing this so the key opens the door smoothly like it used to or is it a case of changing locks and keys etc? Something i would rather avoid as i imagine that can get quite expensive. The car has central locking (with the key, not a fob) and the key as a chip in it for the immobiliser on the car. It's a 2005 Honda Civic.

forgotmyname

Get a new lock made to match the old key.

terrylamps

Thanks for your reply. Can i get any car locksmith to do that or would i need to go to a Honda garage?

forgotmyname

Phone around some decent locksmiths. Join the forums for your car and see what they do and who they use.

If i was not on the club forums i would be paying a lot more for my car insurance and spending more money on other items.

Really is worth joining the clubs.

terrylamps

thankyou :-)

bluesnake

Could you not cheat and put the duff one on the passenger door?

Possibly cheaper going to the breakers and replacing all the locks?

terrylamps

possibly bluesnake, but i think i'd rather get a new lock to fit the key rather than changing locks over or replacing all the locks.

Joe_Horner

Find a good locksmith and they may not need to replace at all. If the locks working but notchy there's a fair chance that they've just raised a burr in there and the old one can be saved.

Shouldn't need to be a "car specific" locksmith either - a lock is a lock whatever its fitted to and a good smith won't have problems working on any of them

forgotmyname

Yeah.. Good point. A good locksmith will be working on your car before you have had a chance to hand him the keys

Car will be open and fully unlocked with no alarm sounding


I did some work on a car as i unpacked my tools i said got the key for the locking wheel nuts. Oh he says. I started jacking it up as he went inside to look for it.

He comes out with a cup of tea saying he cant find it. Takes him a fair few seconds to notice im sitting on the wheel

I really should have been on the wrong side of the law.

rev_henry

That's just a case of brute force with a normal wrench isn't it? Locking wheel nuts are pretty pointless.

Op try the easy first. Squirt a bit of wd40 into the lock and or cover the key in grease and wriggle it about a bit in the lock.

terrylamps

Thanks guys. I'll try the wd40 first and if that doesn't work i'll get a locksmith to look at the lock. Fingers crossed it's a simple fix rather than a replacement lock from Honda.