Key issues on my 94 Accord

[flyingsolo]

I bought a 94 Accord a week or so ago and I'm trying to figure out a plan of action. The driver's side door and ignition both use the same key, but the trunk and the passenger's side door use a different key. The external door handle on the driver's side is not the original and it looks like it was pulled from another car. My question in, how difficult will it be to either pull the tumbler from the door or the ignition to get the tumbler reset?

 

[f22b1 coupe]

Let me say this- change the others to match the ignition, not the other way around. It's a bitch to change out the ones in the door, really- I've done it while replacing a door, its possible, but the ignition is a pain. just do the passenger door and the trunk, the trunk is a cinch.

 

[flyingsolo]

Yeah thats probably what I will do. The only think I will have to do though is get a new cylinder for the driver door because when they set the cylinder to that key they must have messed something up because the key will only go in about half way and I have to play with it to get the key to turn in there. The key goes all the way into the ignition to turn, so I'm thinking that the cylinder is screwed up in the door.

 

[f22b1 coupe]

Getting them made to match will be tricky. Call different locksmiths and ask them if they can rekey cylinders you bring them- disc tumbler locks are sometimes sealed and difficult to rekey, so there may not be a simple solution to your problem outside of replacing all locks with a "set" but I have no idea where you'd find a full "set."

 

[BrutalB83]

It's a bitch to change out the ones in the door

It is NOT fun to replace door locks. You have to take the handle out, and that's a complicated and annoying process. Look into a Haynes/Helms manual for instructions, or Google it and see if there's anything on line...

 

[f22b1 coupe]

Yeah, leave the window rolled up and try to go at the two 10mm bolts holding the handle in, there's a lot of plastic clips and shit to contend with, ultimately though as Brutal said you're shooting for holding it in your hand, then you pull a metal clip and the cylinder slides out. Just be careful with the linkage and clips and all that in your door, you REALLY, REALLY don't want to f any of that stuff up. Slow and easy, its a pain in the ass job and getting worked up or hurrying only makes it worse. Hint: on the 4 door anyway, there is a sticker over a hole you need to remove for access to one of the handle bolts, I haven't done it on a 2 door (but I'm about to have to on mine), so that may not even be the case there.

 

[flyingsolo]

I have no idea where you'd find a full "set."

gDo you think that junk yards keep the keys for the cars that they get? If so, Going to one of them might be one place I might possibly find a set

 

[f22b1 coupe]

Nah, generally they don't screw with the petty stuff, they are in it for the money so they hold onto distributors, alternators, starters, computers, etc. There's just not enough demand or money in harvesting and keeping things like key cylinders. Usually they smash a car once the engine, tranny, and high dollar things have been picked off, make way for the next one.

That being said, if there's a car in the yard that hasn't had any doors picked off yet, then you might be in luck.

Let me just give you some friendly advice though- just fix what's broken and if you have two different keys to get in and start the car, well just pretend you have an 80's GM car The trouble you'd go through to make it happen, when you were finished, would make you wish you had just lived with it. Changing both door locks and the ignition is a lot of time and effort.

 

[flyingsolo]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I was just seeing what options are available in that respect. I'm not sure exactly what I will do yet, but I will keep the suggestions in mind.

 

[f22b1 coupe]

If you want the experience and you have nothing but time and a little money, go for it. I'm not sorry, as much as I wouldn't care to relive some things, it's still gratifying to know you can make your car your bitch instead of paying someone else to do it for you, or putting up with annoying crap. It's up to you man, good luck either way.

 

[f22b1 coupe]

Alright, just thought I'd add some input here- I finally replaced the wrecked door on my 96 coupe and dammit the lock assembly is made different than the 4 door I did (also a 96). Basically you cannot remove the damn cylinder from the handle! Wtf Honda!!! Well, you invariably destroy a stupid little pot metal retainer ring that holds on a bar that in turn obstructs the lock cylinder retainer clip from being removed (complicated explanation, I know)- short of it is, F that, don't mess with that shit, it's hard not to break stuff- you'll want to have the dealer on standby if you do attempt it, but don't mess with the 2 door locks unless you HAVE to. I am just a perfectionist so I might go ahead with attempting it, but I do not recommend it. I will post again if I successfully swap the cylinder in.

By the way, you need to release a clip on the wiring for the sensor in the handle- if you don't the handle won't come out of the door far enough when you take the two 10mm bolts out. What an overly complicated design- even by contrast to the sedan.

 

[f22b1 coupe]

Alright, just thought I'd add some input here- I finally replaced the wrecked door on my 96 coupe and dammit the lock assembly is made different than the 4 door I did (also a 96). Basically you cannot remove the damn cylinder from the handle! Wtf Honda!!! Well, you invariably destroy a stupid little pot metal retainer ring that holds on a bar that in turn obstructs the lock cylinder retainer clip from being removed (complicated explanation, I know)- short of it is, F that, don't mess with that shit, it's hard not to break stuff- you'll want to have the dealer on standby if you do attempt it, but don't mess with the 2 door locks unless you HAVE to. I am just a perfectionist so I might go ahead with attempting it, but I do not recommend it. I will post again if I successfully swap the cylinder in.

By the way, you need to release a clip on the wiring for the sensor in the handle- if you don't the handle won't come out of the door far enough when you take the two 10mm bolts out. What an overly complicated design- even by contrast to the sedan.

 

[hondapartshero]

its not hard to do I just did it this weekend. A little time consuming but not that bad. Here's two write ups that might help on disassembling the locks

DIY: Fixing Doorlocks that open with any key... - Honda-Tech
Team Sol Cal - View topic - HOW TO - Adjust Your Lock To Your Key

 

[f22b1 coupe]

Wow, thanks for the link, that was good to find out- I used to tinker with locks a lot, so I could easily have rekeyed it by filing/rearranging tumblers had I gotten it apart (or swapped my old cylinder back in) but the old one form my car was rusted so that it couldn't b disassembled (I thought it was made that way, but apparently not after viewing that article). So as you said aside from that last little part of rekeying/swapping lock cylinders, it isn't a terrible job, especially if you're familiar with getting a door panel off and back on without much difficulty. That use that damn stupid nylon clip that the lock arm "snaps" into though, and it is quite fragile (as in, I broke it even while trying to depress the ears the right way). Age probably plays a part in that though.