Rep Power: 0

Howdy, tried to search for this issue but couldn't come up eith anything definitive.

My key stopped working in the driver side door on my 03 Civic LX, sedan; 5 speed if that matters. I tried WD40 but no dice. I assumed it was just the cylinder since all the other exterior locks on the car (passenger & truck) were also busted. I replaced the cylinder myself but now the lock is messed up a bit /is sticky AND the new key/cylinder STILL won't turn at all.

My next guess is that my actuator is busted, but all my power locks still work, minus the back right passenger side, but that's low priority. Can the actuator fail in such a way that disables my regular keyed entry? I'm tired of crawling in and opening the driver side.... There's no other keyless entry or otherwise installed. Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 119

Where did you get the replacement?

Personally, I just pull the pins out of the lock for a zero cost workaround. If you still have your old one, try it, those locks come apart easily. (Unlike Nissan.. ugh)

Doubtful the actuator is the issue.

 
Rep Power: 0

Here's the cylinders I got. https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEFT-amp-RI...=2119873671002

The driver side slotted in and even clipped in just fine, I compared them and they were the same shape and details, rods went back on, but still it's the same problem. I'd really like to avoid futzing with tumblers, so I'm fine having a differemt set of keys for the doors.

On that note though, do I have to 'prime' the lock or something to get it to work before inserting it into the door? It didn't seem to want to open when I pulled it out of the packaging. I'm wondering if the clip isn't pinching it in the right way or something.

If the actuator likely isn't an issue, once I have some time I think I'm going to pop the door open again and mess with the rods because I think some of my connections have been messed up.... My window was replaced recently before the lock failed so who knows what they did down there, and who knows how badly I compounded it.

Side note, I should have saved $180 and done the window replacement myself... Getting it out was too easy and I had to for the lock.

 
Rep Power: 0

I was able to get the new cylinder working - I did indeed have to remove 1 or 2 tumblers and the cylinder immediately functions, even outside the lock. Can't tell if that's a design choice or what but it works (minus some weirdness that I think I caused by messing with the rod reinstallation).