Rep Power: 0

Took the car 2003 civic to the dealer to have airbags replaced under recall notice.The customer service guy called me and said he couldn't get key to turn in the ignition. I said it was right key .Anyway he called back and said he got it to work Something smells fishy I thought and said to my coworkers..So they changed the airbags and now when I went to pick it up and the key will not work.After several attempts ask the service guy to try it no luck.So I call my wife she brings extra keys and no luck. I never had any problem with ignition and I don't trust dealers.This happened the day before thanksgiving. Does anyone have any advice because they want almost 700 to fix it.Could they have caused problem by fixing airbag.Any solutions I could try.https://www.civicforums.com/forums/i...lies/frown.gif

 
Rep Power: 155

what is their plan to fix it? If they damaged the ignition replacing the air bag then they are still responsible for it. Just like

I would try talking to a manager, you drove it there so you should be able to drive it home. If that doesn't work then try calling the BBB and see if that helps.

 
Rep Power: 0

Can't prove that they caused it, but it sure seems like they did.

 
Rep Power: 518

I see this...it happens....Be glad it happened whe it was at the dealership and not on you in the middle.of the night in BFE or crackville. They just SAVED YOU A TOW TRUCK BILL.

Tumblers in the cylinder are worn and jam up, very common along with wear on the key.
You own the problem, not the dealer. (The dealer did not wear it out, even though it happened there.)

The lock can be retumbled and it may need a fresh key if it is worn, or they may want to replace the whole assembly if they don't know how to replace tumblers.

 
Rep Power: 0

Your correct sir.After some research I think it just might be my bad luck.The kid who last worked the ignition did say he forced the key in.But once I get the car towed to my house I will fix it for under twenty dollars.( The cost of a new punch and chisel set.I thought 700 hundred was a bit high,just a bit.

 
Rep Power: 518

What you gonna do to it?

I fix em, at work we get two and a half bills or so for the lock cylinder retumble, and add more if it needs a key.

 
Rep Power: 0

I'm going to pull the ignition and change the tumblers myself.

 
Rep Power: 518

You might be just removing tumbler wafers until it works.

Tumblers for Hondas sidewinder locks AFAIK are only available through Honda (unless you can find someone that will sell individual tumbler wafers at the dealer or over the internet)

I know the local lock shops in my town cannot replace tumblers in these locks.....they have not purchased a tumbler kit for these locks......
They send their Honda problems to us (me) at the dealer....
Same for key programming.


If your local dealer wanted to sell you a complete column lock assembly for your problem:
they may not have the tumbler kit
they may not know they have the tumbler kit
they may not have any employees left that ever knew it existed in the first place
or they are scared because one service bulletin says doing a column lock is a no-no.

Or greedy. More profit in replacing an expensive assembly.


I know some other dealers near me just replace, no rebuilding. One tech from the next closest dealer I spoke with said he never knew it was possible or that a tumbler kit exists.

In my shop I can think of only 3 people that can give the correct answer if you were to call with a sidewinder lock problem.... 2 are techs and we don't answer phones nor talk to the customers much. LOL

 
Rep Power: 0

I have no doubt you are correct.Until I get the ignition out wont know the tumbler s I need.A friend of mine with experience as a locksmith assures me it will be no problem.I hope he's right.I will provide an update when it's repaired.Thanks for your advice.

 
Rep Power: 518

Send him this pic and see if he has these, this pic is a couple wafers (tumblers) for a Honda Sidewinder lock.
The red lines drawn are where one will find the wear that causes them to jam up.



There's one other style (much larger) wafer in the lock but these above are the ones that cause all the problems.

 
Rep Power: 0

You are correct sir.I pulled it apart and the number three wafer was bad.I removed them and the springs.Put it back together on the bench and seems fine.