Is there a cheap and easy fix for our Honda door lock?
January 11, 2011 1:23 PM Subscribe
Hi there, the lock on the driver-side door of my Honda Fit seems to be malfunctioning. Is there a cheap and easy way to fix it?
We have a 2007 Honda Fit DX. We do not have keyless entry.
For the past week or so the lock on the driver-side door has been sticky, meaning it is difficult to insert a key into the lock. We really on this lock to unlock all doors of the car for our kids etc.
Is this a common problem? Is there any easy fix?
The car is no longer under warranty.
This happened once before a couple of years ago, and the problem seemed to resolve itself.
I figured it was because of cold weather and rain and dirt getting into the lock. We live in a relatively warm, wet winter climate, although it has been cold recently (no snow or rain) and the roads have been salted.
We have a 2007 Honda Fit DX. We do not have keyless entry.
For the past week or so the lock on the driver-side door has been sticky, meaning it is difficult to insert a key into the lock. We really on this lock to unlock all doors of the car for our kids etc.
Is this a common problem? Is there any easy fix?
The car is no longer under warranty.
This happened once before a couple of years ago, and the problem seemed to resolve itself.
I figured it was because of cold weather and rain and dirt getting into the lock. We live in a relatively warm, wet winter climate, although it has been cold recently (no snow or rain) and the roads have been salted.
(I use the graphite lubricant when my key is difficult to TURN, but it might help with the insertion issue as well.)
posted by charmedimsure at 1:34 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by charmedimsure at 1:34 PM on January 11, 2011
A little WD40 might do the trick. Of course, that is my answer for a lot of things.
posted by Dedalus at 1:35 PM on January 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Dedalus at 1:35 PM on January 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: All righty, I'll give it graphite lubricant a try and will report back.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:48 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 1:48 PM on January 11, 2011
If you think it may be dirt, you could try inserting the tube on a can of liquid air and give it a couple of quick squirts.
posted by Taurid at 1:48 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by Taurid at 1:48 PM on January 11, 2011
Don't use WD40 in a lock - it might help in the short term but it is liable to attract dirt and make things worse.
posted by exogenous at 1:50 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by exogenous at 1:50 PM on January 11, 2011
My 2004 Honda Civic is doing the same thing, and just yesterday an insurance adjuster said, "oh, your lock cylinders are going. That's odd." I tried WD40 a while back but
it did nothing.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:58 PM on January 11, 2011
it did nothing.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:58 PM on January 11, 2011
Response by poster: I just tried using liquid air to clean out the lock, but it did nothing.
I should say that I am able to insert the key most of the way into the lock, but it seems to be "bottoming out" - I can insert the key enough to actually make it unlock the car, as there is something obstructing it at the bottom. I kind of wonder if a graphite lubricant can help with that.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:59 PM on January 11, 2011
I should say that I am able to insert the key most of the way into the lock, but it seems to be "bottoming out" - I can insert the key enough to actually make it unlock the car, as there is something obstructing it at the bottom. I kind of wonder if a graphite lubricant can help with that.
posted by KokuRyu at 1:59 PM on January 11, 2011
Response by poster: I cannot insert the key enough to actually make it unlock the car, as there is something obstructing it at the bottom. I kind of wonder if a graphite lubricant can help with that.
posted by KokuRyu at 2:04 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 2:04 PM on January 11, 2011
as there is something obstructing it at the bottom.
If it's indeed a small thing, like a stray bit of metal or whatnot...
Get a small straw, like a coffee stirrer. Stick one end in your mouth, the other in the lock. Try to touch the straw to the obstructing object. Suck with your mouth, like a vacuum cleaner.
Hopefully, it'll come out attached to the straw via suction, like a vacuum cleaner trying to suck up a tennis ball. Oh, and try not to inhale anything.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:15 PM on January 11, 2011
If it's indeed a small thing, like a stray bit of metal or whatnot...
Get a small straw, like a coffee stirrer. Stick one end in your mouth, the other in the lock. Try to touch the straw to the obstructing object. Suck with your mouth, like a vacuum cleaner.
Hopefully, it'll come out attached to the straw via suction, like a vacuum cleaner trying to suck up a tennis ball. Oh, and try not to inhale anything.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 2:15 PM on January 11, 2011
Oh! This just happened with our Fit! We fixed it with graphite, I think.
posted by bluedaisy at 2:31 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by bluedaisy at 2:31 PM on January 11, 2011
Try rubbing the key with a soft pencil (home-made graphite).
posted by Carol Anne at 2:55 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by Carol Anne at 2:55 PM on January 11, 2011
Response by poster: The graphite solution did not work, and I suspect the lock is broken. I will take the car in to the shop.
posted by KokuRyu at 5:33 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by KokuRyu at 5:33 PM on January 11, 2011
My Toyota's trunk lock got stuck like yours (key wouldn't go in) and I fixed it with WD40. I had to blast it a half dozen times between jamming the key deeper and deeper but it eventually saw things my way and has been working well enough since then.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:15 PM on January 11, 2011
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:15 PM on January 11, 2011
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posted by charmedimsure at 1:31 PM on January 11, 2011