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Anyone else having trouble with OEM ignition switch and turning on/off
by
kinger
on 21 Sep, 2017 13:55
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My ignition switch (where you stick the key so were not talking about engine stuff) is getting harder and harder to insert the key and start the car, and also shut the car off. It feels like it locks and wont unlock. The key goes in perfect every time but about 70-80% of the time I can't get the key to turn obviously 1 to turn car on but almost as bad to shut it back off. I'm getting a little worried its going to lock me out at some point and I'll be stuck with a car that doesn't start or doesn't shut off.
Any simple fixes? I have put a dab of lithium grease in the key hole and it helped at first but seems to continue to decline in operation.
Thanks!
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#1
by
Exidous
on 21 Sep, 2017 16:01
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They sometimes just wear out. Is it a different key than normal?
You can always go ghetto hooptie in a crunch and wire up a pair of switches to the wires on the back side until you get it figured out.
Only problem is a key set for the whole car is not cheap.....
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#2
by
kinger
on 21 Sep, 2017 16:12
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The key appears to be original 1993. Has the plastic head on it with Mazda logo. I'm wondering if its the key or the cylinder?
I need to investigate a push button start to modernize the interior maybe its time. I was hoping I could bypass the wheel lock function somehow in the cylinder.
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#3
by
wickedrx7
on 21 Sep, 2017 16:33
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Is the key warn? Not totally engaging the cylinder? I switched to a generic ford key 20 years ago because the stock FD key was breaking. It has worked great all these years and never sticks. And doesn't break at the base like the Mazda key.
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#4
by
kinger
on 21 Sep, 2017 16:38
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How's this look?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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#5
by
wickedrx7
on 21 Sep, 2017 16:55
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Doesn't look bad at all.
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#6
by
cholmes
on 21 Sep, 2017 19:01
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Waaaay back in the day I had the same problem on my FB. I got some lubricant with graphite in it from a hardware store, squirted some in the key hole, then for about a month after that, every time I took the key out I had to wipe it on a rag I kept between the seat to keep from getting black stains on my hands and clothes. That one application fixed the problem for literally the next 20 years, though!
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#7
by
kinger
on 22 Sep, 2017 09:17
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Thanks cholmes, I will try to find some of this. What is the significance of graphite?
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#8
by
cholmes
on 22 Sep, 2017 11:09
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Graphite is a dry lubricant. The liquid part of stuff I bought is a light oil that serves as a carrier for the graphite, to get the graphite where it's needed. After the oil evaporates or drains off, the graphite stays in place as a slick coating.
Graphite is also available in a dry powder form, and "puffed" into place with an air bulb. In fact, check this out at Lowe's:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-Graphite-Powdered-Lubricant/1244381Heck, it's even got a key on the tube! Looks like it's specifically for sticky key locks. I'll bet it would work well for you.
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#9
by
kinger
on 22 Sep, 2017 12:15
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Learn something new everyday! Definitely worth a shot, thanks!!!!
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#10
by
kinger
on 25 Sep, 2017 15:40
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Just update I purchased some spray graphite in a aerosol can from my local Ace hardware. Came with a small straw and 3 puffs into the ignition switch and about a day to dry out and ignition works like new! Thank you CHOLMES!!!
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#11
by
cholmes
on 25 Sep, 2017 16:14
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You bet! Glad to hear it worked!