Broken Key

Hello, all,
The plastic head of the key to my wife's 2004 Honda broke last night,
with the key in the ignition. Fortunately, the top of the metal part of the
key is large enough that I was able to turn it and remove it with the help
of a needle-nosed pliers (I may not even have needed the needle-nosed but it
made it simpler. Since the car has over 36,000 miles, the dealer's service
manager denied responsibility. After my wife gave him some grief about how
cheap the plastic head is, he agreed to provide a new key for his cost ($75)
plus tax, which will be about $10 less than retail.
For completeness sake, I'll add that the head is the type that has the
remote controls on it (open door, lock door, open trunk, panic button).
My question is, has anyone else had an experience with the key head
breaking after only a short life? What did you do about it?
Thanks!
Steve

 

How much over 36K miles is it?

Do you have a relationship with this dealership?

Sounds like you don't. sounds like this guy doesn't have a clue. go
elsewhere.

 

Just a question:

Is the vehicle parked with the steering wheel turned sharply?

If so, this can cause an extra effort to turn the key in the lock, enough to
break the key off. Sometimes pressure on the wheel has to be relieved (by
slightly turning it the other way) in order for the key to work easily. I've
seen a lot of broken keys because folks didn't know this.

Spdloader

 

--------------------------

I'm not sure why 'folks don't know this' when it's been printed in every
Honda owner's manual since the dawn of modern transportation. They must
think Honda made the keys bigger so _they_ could get more leverage on
them. :-(

'Curly'

 

Maybe Honda should wise up and make the key head smaller.

nb

 

"notbob" wrote

Maybe people shouldn't try to force the key out. Any time mine won't come
out easily, I turn the wheel just a bit to relieve the aforementioned
pressure. That should be way beyond second nature. Then again, I've been
told there are no "shoulds" in life.

 

Actually it's a safety feature. Why modify a design that has the added
benefit of disabling a vehicle when the driver lacks the double digit IQ
needed to operate an ignition key? If only such a disabled vehicle would
lock the idiot driver inside and prevent the idiot from using another vehicle.

 

Howzabout "coulds"? I notice all keys, even house keys, have become
just a tad thinner, these days. A few thousandths less per key times
millions of keys adds up to increased profit margin. What care they
you break your key? That's more money for them. It could actually be
....gasp!... intentional.

nb

 

If a lock doesn't turn smoothly, spray some lubricant into it. This isn't
rocket science.

 

You read my mind...

 

......just got my crystal ball back from the shop. Don't know how long it'll
work this time.

Spdloader

 

I swear people are getting dumber every passing year.

 

"AZ Nomad" wrote

You read my mind! ;-)

 

Did you use aftermarket parts?

 

This does bring up the subject of the incredible swelling Honda car
key. I have commented to other Honda owners when I see the size of
the newer ones. If you get a group of owners together you can rank
their cars in age order based on the size of the key alone. Just
yesterday I checked the key to an '06 Accord (with the built in
buttons) and I couldn't believe the size of it. not only is the head
large, but the blade looked about 25% longer than the one for my '94
GS-R. Is this some kind of Freudian thing? What is wrong with making
the remote a separate fob?

 

Not this time. Last time I used the cheaper, Taiwanese crystal. Got cloudy
in no time.

Spdloader

 

Oh, good for you.

Then you must have used the aftermarket Dilithium Orthobinary substrate.
This will mess up your A/C system. Don't do it again.

 

Yes, better clarity, better warranty, and doesn't give the "beer goggles"
effect when looking at women at the bar.

Spdloader