Ignition Barrel stuffed

[robert112]

Hi Guys,
a week ago I noticed it was a bit hard to get the key in and out of the ignition barrel to turn the car on and off. This week it's completely stuck the key cannot turn the ignition on to reds. I can turn it one click, but I can't turn the key to get the second click to get to Red and start cranking the engine.
The car is stuck in my garage now, I have 2 questions:

1) What can I do? Should I try spraying wd40 in the key hole?
2) Can someone recommend me a mobile mechanic that will be able to swap out my barell?

**Edit: (I won't to add, it's not just stuck because the steering wheel is locked, I'm not that silly ;p)

[nickk]

graphite powder instead of wd40 man.. try get it in there and jiggle the keys around

[steeeven]

fish oil should do the trick spray some on your key and in the ignition barrel and jiggle it around for abit. Do it a couple of times it should be smooth. Happened to my dc2

[robert112]

cheers thanks for the ideas will give it another go tonight but its pretty badly stuck from jiggling it too much.

[EK1 Civic]

I thought fish oil/wd40 would muck around with the immobiliser. Since your key has a special code, my cars key thing is getting a bit rough. Might give it a go to.

[steeeven]

I thought fish oil/wd40 would muck around with the immobiliser. Since your key has a special code, my cars key thing is getting a bit rough. Might give it a go to.
↲Yeh i thought that at first. a friend told me that wd40 would actually rust the inside of the barrel in the long run or something. Fish oil worked for my dc2 it didn't stuff up the imobilisier

[markismaximus]

using fish oil/wd40 will eventually gunk up the barrel as they both attract dust/dirt. Graphite powder would be better as said above

[dougie_504]

+1 for graphite, worked for me previously

[nickk]

happy!! chuck us pq's.

If worse comes to worse, change the barrel and just carry both keys incase u get a flat batt / don't have keyless entry.
Won't really cost that much.

[robert112]

hmmm I never thought of doing that, tha'ts actually not so bad (having 2 different keys to turn on car/open door since keyless is what I normally use..)

[vinhy]

where do you get graphite powder from?

[markismaximus]

try bunnings / mitre10 / lock smith

[dougie_504]

A lock smith or your mechanic will probably just wipe some on for you lol

[dc2r-0636]

bump.

need graphite powder! how do u apply it ? just put some on the key?

and is it actually a powder? or does it come in liquid form?

[markismaximus]

yes it is powder, really fine powder.

put some on the key, try keep as much on the key as possible and put it into the ingition. jiggle it around

repeat if required.

[tiksie]

Don't bother with graphite powder..

Pull out the barrel and take it in to a locksmith to get the wafers replaced, they usuall drop and seize the inside up.. It only costs about $30~ and get a new key while you're at it as if your key is damaged, it is bound to happen again.

PM me if you want me to direct you to a locksmith that will do it for around $25~

[dc2r-0636]

thanks guys.

i ended up using the graphite powder. works great for now. but if it starts playing up ill take it to a locksmith.

cheers!

[tiksie]

I would suggest getting the wafers changed as I said above or you could be stuck in a bad situation later on down the track.