One of the most common service calls we receive involves Honda ignition cylinders that suddenly stop working.
Typically, the key works perfectly fine for years. Then you may notice it becoming a little difficult to turn once or twice. Over the next few days or weeks, it might become increasingly finicky until one day the key won’t turn at all.
The problem is usually not the key itself. Honda locks contain small components called split wafers. Unlike full-sized wafers, split wafers tend to wear much more quickly over time. As they wear, they can begin to stick inside the lock cylinder. Eventually, one or more wafers protrudes far enough into the cylinder that the key can no longer rotate the lock.
Fortunately, replacing the entire ignition is usually unnecessary.
Our solution is to remove the affected lock cylinder and replace the worn split wafers. In many cases, the key has also experienced wear and should be renewed. Rather than replacing the entire key, we typically recut a new blade and reuse the original electronics and transponder chip. This keeps costs down while maintaining full vehicle functionality.
The typical cost to repair a Honda ignition or door lock by replacing the split wafers, along with re-shelling and cutting new keys, is approximately $500. In most cases, the repair can be completed on-site, weather permitting.
Compared to dealership replacement of the ignition assembly, this approach can save hundreds of dollars. It also avoids towing costs and eliminates the inconvenience of carrying separate keys for the ignition and doors, which is often the result of a dealership ignition replacement.