Worn out key?

[cjv998]

Hey, is anyone else's key really worn out, and what (if anything) did you do to fix this? I only have the master key. Like I can take the key out of the ignition when the car is running, probably not a good thing. My concern is that anyone can easily steal/break into the car. I went to a dealer, and the key they made me from the VIN looked TOTALLY different than mine, and of course didn't work. They tried twice to trace my worn down key, and neither worked very well, not to mention that doesnt fix my problem. Looks like my only option is to get the car re-keyed...and it looks like that is pretty expensive. Here's a picture:

[doylna]

Hey, is anyone else's key really worn out, and what (if anything) did you do to fix this? I only have the master key. Like I can take the key out of the ignition when the car is running, probably not a good thing. My concern is that anyone can easily steal/break into the car. I went to a dealer, and the key they made me from the VIN looked TOTALLY different than mine, and of course didn't work. They tried twice to trace my worn down key, and neither worked very well, not to mention that doesnt fix my problem. Looks like my only option is to get the car re-keyed...and it looks like that is pretty expensive. Here's a picture:

If you have the VIN, you can get an OEM ket cut at the dealer for less than $5. Also, the original key has a code on it, from which the dealer can cut a new key.

[cp[mike]]

If you have the VIN, you can get an OEM ket cut at the dealer for less than $5. Also, the original key has a code on it, from which the dealer can cut a new key.

next time actually read the post before responding to it.


he said he tried that.

[honda4674]

could it be hat the key that the dealer made for you was for the car and you ahve a diff. ignition i dunno just a guess i only ahve a copy of my original key if i go to the dealer do they give you a key that says honda like the original one or is it just a copy like at home depote

[cp[mike]]

they will give you an OEM honda key, since thats where the original one came from (the dealer)... the only places youll get noname blanks are hardware stores.

[honda4674]

kool so all i need is to go to a dealer and give them my vin or what else do i need proff that the car is mine and how much does it usually cost thanks cp[mike]

[doylna]

next time actually read the post before responding to it.


he said he tried that.

Wow, so much for trying to help.

I had a similar problem where my key was pretty worn, and sometimes the car wouldn't start. I had a new key cut at the dealer and I've never had a problem since doing that.

[doylna]

could it be hat the key that the dealer made for you was for the car and you ahve a diff. ignition i dunno just a guess i only ahve a copy of my original key if i go to the dealer do they give you a key that says honda like the original one or is it just a copy like at home depote

I brought my registration and my DL (and drove my car there). They cut the key without any questions.

[cp[mike]]

Wow, so much for trying to help.

if i had some sort of help to offer, i would have. i dont, so i didnt.

my key is worn down pretty far, i always assumed a new key from the dealer would work... but apparently neither that nor copying the key he already has worked for him, so i dont see what other options he has. id just deal with it.

as far as buying keys from the dealer, IIRC they were about 1.50 each, and the guy cut them for me for free because he did little things to hook me up like that... but cutting a new key from a vin number will be < $5

[ParoXoN]

Key cutting is relatively cheap, which is generally a good thing.

Regrettably, if you can remove the key from the ignition while driving, it's probably time to get a new tumbler.

I had this same problem with an old '90 Shadow I had. Anything that vaguely resembled a key could be used to start the engine (e.g. a pair of scissors.) Why? Look at the grooves on your key: they don't really exist anymore. The fact that a key like that can be used to start your car indicates the inside of the tumbler is equally worn down. Accordingly, anything that bears a passing resemblance to the shape of your key could be used to start the vechicle.

Now if noone knows this, I suppose it's not a big deal. My buddy who stole my car with a pair of scissors happened to know that the tumbler was screwy.

[The G-Man]

Anybody know exactly how they cut these keys? Because I remember when I went to the dealer to get another key, I showed them my registration, and the code on the key, and the dude looked something up from a card catalog, pulled out a blank from the drawer, and put the key on a machine, and started cutting it to specs himself. Does like every dealer have a database of ALL the VINs and key specs, or are there multiple keys and ignitions that are the same? Lets compare codes on our keys!

[ParoXoN]

Anybody know exactly how they cut these keys? Because I remember when I went to the dealer to get another key, I showed them my registration, and the code on the key, and the dude looked something up from a card catalog, pulled out a blank from the drawer, and put the key on a machine, and started cutting it to specs himself. Does like every dealer have a database of ALL the VINs and key specs, or are there multiple keys and ignitions that are the same? Lets compare codes on our keys!

I'd imagine all the keys are unique... Doesn't make a lot of sense to have duplicate keys

Let's say that there are 5 different ridge heights and 10 different ridges on a given key. 5^10=9,765,625 different unique keys.

As for cutting the key from the number/VIN:
There's probably some sort of formula that relates the 4-digit keycode to the way the key ridges should be cut. Maybe (just guessing) you run the keycode through a certain formula and it'll spit out a number that describes the height of each ridge on the key.

[accord91lx]

hmm you all talk of key codes. Of the 4 accords i own, two of them (90 lx, 91lx both gray) do have a key code. BUT, my 91 lx silver, and 91 ex blue, do NOT have key codes. I have all of their master keys. Another thing, the keys with the codes are shorter/smaller than the ones that do not. Intresting.

[ParoXoN]

hmm you all talk of key codes. Of the 4 accords i own, two of them (90 lx, 91lx both gray) do have a key code. BUT, my 91 lx silver, and 91 ex blue, do NOT have key codes. I have all of their master keys. Another thing, the keys with the codes are shorter/smaller than the ones that do not. Intresting.

No keycodes?? That's not right... I was under the impression that all master keys were req'd to have a code stamped on them... Are you sure the two code-less keys are masters? Maybe they're from different markets? (EDM, JDM?)


And different sizes?! o.O Now that's just weird... Probably produced in different plants in different countries. Other countries might have different legislation/standards concerning automotive keying.

[hondaman-iac]

i had the same problem with my oem key. i just had a copy made at home depot a while ago and it worked fine, actually it never came out of the ignition again, and the ignition switch was a lot smoother. Yes, the new key was cut from the worn old master honda key.