Key Problem - 95 Accord Lx

You need to leave your parking lights on as well while he car is parked (that's why they call them parking lights, silly). That will solve your problem.

Sara II wrote in news:kc42m9$h54$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Why?

There's a good chance it will.

The "first turn" is the "I" setting, which is known as "Accessory" or "ACC" on many other cars. At that setting, electrical things like the radio will operate.

Why? Are you having trouble getting the key out of the ignition? Or is it hard to turn the key to the "0" position?

I've been having problems with turning the key to start the car once it is in and also getting the key out. I decided to leave it in so I won't get stranded away from home. I lock the car with the other key. . Nancy

Sara II wrote in news:kc5e3u$838$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

The key might just be really worn. How easy is it to lock and unlock the driver's door? Do you have another, newer, key to try?

I just have the two original keys. It's sometimes a bit difficult to open the driver's side door.

Nancy

I have the same problem with my '94 Accord but after some WD40 spray into the key hole, the key does work again for a while. Have you tried it?

A friend put graphite in the locks and ignition. Helped a bit but not much. The shop wants $330 to change out the starter "gizmo." I think I'll try getting a new key. We are in a very rural area so no locksmiths around here. I'll have to wait until I get to the big city.

Nancy

changing the lock is pretty simple and you can do it yourself if you have some tools. the key assembly with new keys is

make that "lock assembly"

Sara II wrote in news:kc6g9o$a94$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

What about the passenger door? Is that one easier to open, or just as difficult?

Sara II wrote in news:kc7ekd$84a$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Graphite is a bad idea on car locks. Better is something like gun oil or sewing machine oil.

If you live in the north-east, a can of Carwell T-40 aerosol is even better: Spray and soak the lock generously until it spews out the keyole (the more the better), then work the key in and out and back and forth a few times.

Try your keys in the passenger door lock. Same result, or better?

The passenger lock will work better in any case, since it hardly gets any use, so the difference between driver and passenger must be significant before the key is suspect.

By the way, you can continue to use your one-turn key method, so long as you make certain that ALL electrical stuff is turned OFF. Especially, turn the radio OFF. Don't just turn the volume down or switch the radio to a setting where the sound appears to go away.

Tegger wrote in news:XnsA13EBB4259BBAtegger@208.90.168.18:

Sorry...let me clarify that:

- If both doors are roughly-equally difficult to open with the suspect key, then the key is at fault.

- If the passenger door is significantly easier to open with the suspect key, then the driver's lock is likely at fault.

but graphite is a solid state lubricant - it doesn't freeze. gun oil and sewing machine oil do. that black stuff smeared all over the brand new lock you buy [if you ever have] is graphite. solid state is why

correct.

if you can be bothered, it's much better to carry and use the valet key if you have manual locks. this is because the difference between the valet and standard key is the much wider "land" on the valet which is used to keep the key from fitting the trunk, but at the same time, causes much less wear of the main lock tumblers because of the wider contact surface..

The passenger door is easier to open than the driver's side.

Nancy

it's actually very easy to change out the tumblers and re-key your door locks if you've changed your ignition - the usual way around. some day i'll get around to writing up a how-to, but you remove the lock from the door, remove the cylinder from the barrel, shake out the tumblers and either replace, re-order or jewelers file the tumblers back into working order. it sounds a lot worse than it is - takes about 10 minutes to re-key the cylinder.

as for not being very convenient, it means you carry two keys, not one. not quite as simple, but not exactly hard. and certainly a good deal better than having no ignition or no ability to lock the car.

You may want to get a new key from Honda using the code on your existing key. If you have a new key cut from the existing key, there is a good chance it will be no better than the problem key.

I already carry two keys: one on my key chain and a backup key in my pocket separately.