Ignition Stuck! - 1995 Civic

Hi all,

I have an automatic 1995 Honda Civic. The ignition switch was replaced
4 months ago after a burglar destroyed it with a screwdriver.

The ignition has been working until today. I cannot turn the key once
it is in the ignition. I've tried everything I read about on the
internet:

(1) Moving the steering wheel left and right while trying to turn the
key - the wheels are straight and the steering
wheel is unlocked
(2) Making sure the car is in the park position
(3) Shifting the car into neutral and letting it roll a couple inches
(4) Spraying WD-40 into the keyhole

Any other ideas?

 

Car ignition keys do wear. You can take your old key to the
dealer parts/service department, and they can get you a
brand new one. This may very well fix the problem. It did
for my 1991 Civic a few years ago. Cost was under $10.

 

More often the problem is from using a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of
a....

I've had used cars where the key I got was a "last generation" key which worked,
but couldn't be copied. Then it's is time to visit the dealer with a copy
of the title and/or registration.

 

Right, I did not mean to say I had the dealer cut a key from
the old one. I am not sure what I brought in to the dealer
to get a brand new key. Maybe it was just the VIN. Either
way, it took minutes.

 

I never thought you meant that.

What I was attempting to say was that sometimes a crappy key didn't get that
way from being worn out, but got that way from being an Nth generation copy.

agreed.

 

Thanks for the input, guys.

The ignition and keys are only four months old. So, I don't think the
problem is with the key. Plus, I tried using the spare key and that
didn't work.

 

whoever replaced your ignition didn't do a complete job. there are a
couple of interlock mechanisms built into the barrel and its housing.
if the lock was forced, chances are, one of these interlocks was
damaged. full repair in this situation requires either careful
strip-down and examination of the entire mechanism, including the
interlocks, and/or replacing the housing. you can often get these parts
from a junkyard and save a lot of money as they can be expensive new.

 

Interesting... but, any idea why it suddenly stopped working 4 mo
later? The ignition was replaced 4 mo and I've had no problems until
yesterday morning.

 

what was damaged is now broken. still need to get it fixed...

 

makes sense. thanks a million.

 

I'm not very knowledgeable about some of these terms. Sounds like I
don't need a new cylinder (which was replaced 4 mo ago), but perhaps a
new barrel and/or housing. Is this correct? A mechanic is looking at
my car now - just want to make sure he's not charging me for items I
don't need... Thanks again for the help.

 

probably not, but be aware that if something is damaged, the cylinder
could also be damaged now. it's just a soft die-casting.

i'd say look at the housing first. there's a trick to getting the
barrel out in the first place - you need the key and there's a pin
located in a place you can't readily see - need to insert and twist key
to be able to push pin and remove cylinder. you can probably get the
cylinder out/in without knowing this, but the barrel mechanism could be
damaged in the process.

the "safe" bet is to replace the housing and the whole locking
mechanism, even though it's a lot more expensive. if he has the honda
manual, the instructions on the locking mechanism and how to disassemble
are in the back of the section on the electrical system, not the
steering column section.

this stuff is real important to have working right - believe me, you
really don't want the steering lock mechanism to suddenly malfunction
when you're driving.