Great Video, You saved me $600 and I thank you!
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Honda Ignition Repair: Fix a Key That Won't Turn
Your Honda key slides in, but it won't turn. Or it only turns after you jiggle it for a while. That is almost always a worn ignition lock cylinder, and it's one of the most common problems on 2003–2012 Hondas. You have three ways to fix it: do it yourself with our free step-by-step video, which has over 1 million views on YouTube; mail your ignition to us for a $225 repair with return shipping included; or, if you're near us in Pennsylvania, have us come to you.
- $225 mail-in repair
- Return shipping included
- Fixed in 1 day once received
- All 2003–2012 Hondas
Father & Son Locksmith
Real Feedback. Real Results.
See what viewers are saying about our automotive locksmith how-to video and the money-saving tips we share.
Awesome video, great delivery, really helped me. I'm back on the road, no money out!!
@carmenfoster261View on YouTube →
Thanks you sir you just saved me 800 bucks at the dealership. Mahalo! Excellent video!
@travisshakView on YouTube →
This was AWESOME. We were stuck in rural Alaska 6 hours from home and used this video to fix the ignition and get home. You are a superstar!
@MrChuckGortonView on YouTube →
Dude, you saved me a trip to the Mechanic and probably several hundred dollars with this video. Thank you and it was a great detailed video. I couldn't be more appreciative of this one. A million thanks.
@aaroncooper7791View on YouTube →
Outstanding video. Thank you so much for saving me a tow and all the $'s the shop would have charged to fix my son's 2006 Honda Element. Your method worked perfectly and was easy to follow. Cheers!
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Comments from viewers of our YouTube tutorial. These reflect experiences using the video, not necessarily customers who purchased locksmith services.
What the Video Shows, Step by Step
In the video, Chris from Father & Son Locksmith takes a Honda ignition lock that won't turn, finds the problem and fixes it on the bench. The video starts with the lock housing already out of the car. Here is what it covers:
- Take off the black cap. It's part of the transponder (key chip) system and is held on by four Phillips screws. Move the wire out of the way and lift the cap off.
- Pull the first roll pin. Under the cap is a roll pin that holds the lock in the housing. Chris drills right alongside the pin, then pries it up with an ice pick. Take your time. In the video it took about 3 minutes.
- Slide the lock out of the housing. With that pin out, the lock comes out of the housing.
- Remove the second roll pin. This one is tricky because there's no room to get a punch on it. Chris marks a line, drills a small hole right over the pin and taps it out with a 1/16 inch center punch. Watch where it goes. In the video it flies out.
- Find the bad wafer. With the key in the lock, you can see one wafer sticking up. That raised wafer is what stops the ignition from turning. In the video, it was worn out and bent.
- Remove the wafer and its spring, then put it back together. With the key back in, the remaining wafers sit flush. Chris reinstalls the roll pin and tail piece, slides the lock back into the housing, puts the second roll pin back and adds a little metal epoxy to hold it.
Tools used in the video: Phillips screwdriver, drill with a small bit, ice pick, 1/16 inch center punch, small screwdriver, vise and metal epoxy.
If you don't have the tools or would rather not take your ignition apart, mail it to us and we'll do the repair for you.
Signs Your Honda Ignition Is Failing
A Honda ignition lock cylinder is full of small metal wafers, and each one rides on a cut of your key. After years of daily use, the wafers and the key wear against each other. Eventually one wafer stops dropping into place, and it blocks the cylinder from turning. Watch for these signs:
- The key goes in all the way but won't turn to start the car.
- You have to wiggle or jiggle the key, or try several times, before it turns.
- The key turns harder than it used to.
- The key feels stuck in the ignition or is hard to pull out.
- It works some days and not others, and it's getting worse.
These problems usually start small and get worse. If you're already jiggling the key every morning, fix it now, before it leaves you stranded in a parking lot.
Quick Checks Before You Take It Apart
Not every stuck key is a worn cylinder. These checks take a minute and cost nothing:
- Wiggle the steering wheel. If the wheel is turned against the steering lock, it can bind the ignition. Gently turn the wheel left and right while you turn the key.
- Make sure it's fully in Park. On an automatic, put your foot on the brake and shift firmly back into Park.
- Try your spare key. If the spare turns and your everyday key doesn't, the everyday key may be worn or bent.
- Look at the key. A bent or cracked key can't line up the wafers.
- Don't force it. Forcing a key that won't turn can snap it off inside the lock and make the repair harder.
If none of that helps, the cylinder almost certainly has a worn or stuck wafer, and it's time to repair it.
Which Hondas We Cover
2003–2012All Honda models from these years
We repair ignitions for all 2003–2012 Hondas, including popular models like the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Element, Odyssey and Pilot. If your Honda is from 2003 to 2012, we can fix its ignition. Not sure? Call or text 610-489-5755 with your year and model before you ship.
DIY, Mail-In or Local Service?
The right choice depends on your tools, your time and where you live.
Do It Yourself
Free
- Follow our step-by-step video
- You remove the ignition and take it apart
- Needs a drill, center punch, vise and other tools
- Best for handy owners
Mail-In Repair
$225
- Return shipping included
- Fixed in 1 day once we receive it
- You send the cylinder, housing and all keys
- A locksmith since 1996 does the repair
Local Service
Call for a price
- We come to you
- We remove your ignition, repair it and reinstall it
- For customers near us in Pennsylvania
- Call to check if you're in our area
For comparison, dealers often charge around $800 to replace a Honda ignition.
How Mail-In Works
- 1
Call or Text Before You Ship
Call or text 610-489-5755 with your Honda's year and model. We'll answer your questions and know your ignition is on the way.
- 2
Remove and Pack It
Take out the ignition cylinder and the housing, and put them in a box with ALL of your keys.
Tip: Pack it securely with padding so nothing moves around, and include a note with your name, phone number and return address.
- 3
Ship It to Us
Father & Son Locksmith
149 Fairfield Cir N
Royersford, PA 19468We recommend a shipping service with tracking so you can see when it arrives.
- 4
We Fix It in 1 Day and Ship It Back
Once your ignition arrives, we repair it within 1 day and ship it back to you. Return shipping is included in the $225.
What to Send
- Ignition cylinder
- Ignition housing
- All of your keys
- A note with your name, phone number and return address
Easy Payment
We take all forms of payment: Venmo, Zelle, credit card and Cash App.
A Family Locksmith Since 1996
Father & Son Locksmith is a family business with two generations behind it. Chris has been a locksmith since 1996, working on homes, businesses and cars.
Chris filmed his Honda ignition video to help drivers stuck with a key that wouldn't turn. It now has over 1 million views on YouTube, and drivers from all over the country have mailed us their Honda ignitions to fix. When you send us yours, it gets repaired by the same family that made the video.
Honda Ignition Repair FAQ
Why won't my Honda key turn in the ignition?
Most of the time it's a worn ignition lock cylinder. The small metal wafers inside wear against your key over the years until one of them sticks up and blocks the cylinder from turning. Before you take anything apart, gently turn the steering wheel left and right while turning the key, make sure the car is fully in Park, and try your spare key.
How much does mail-in Honda ignition repair cost?
Our mail-in Honda ignition repair is $225, and return shipping is included.
How long does mail-in repair take?
We repair your ignition within 1 day of receiving it, then ship it back. Your total time also depends on how long shipping takes each way.
What do I need to send?
Send the ignition cylinder, the ignition housing and all of your keys. Pack them securely and include a note with your name, phone number and return address.
Where do I ship my Honda ignition?
Ship it to Father & Son Locksmith, 149 Fairfield Cir N, Royersford, PA 19468. Call or text 610-489-5755 before you ship so we know it's coming.
How can I pay?
We take all forms of payment: Venmo, Zelle, credit card and Cash App.
Which Hondas do you repair?
We repair ignitions for all 2003–2012 Hondas. If you're not sure about your car, call or text 610-489-5755 with the year and model.
Can I fix my Honda ignition myself?
Yes. Our free step-by-step video on YouTube, with over 1 million views, shows the whole repair on the bench. You'll need tools like a Phillips screwdriver, a drill with a small bit, an ice pick, a 1/16 inch center punch, a vise and metal epoxy. If you'd rather not take it apart, mail it to us.
Do you come to me?
If you're near us in Pennsylvania, we can come to you, remove your ignition, repair it and reinstall it. Call 610-489-5755 to check if you're in our area and get a price.
Is it cheaper than going to the dealer?
Dealers often charge around $800 to replace a Honda ignition. Our mail-in repair is $225 with return shipping included.
Honda key won't turn? Mail in your ignition for $225 with return shipping included, or call 610-489-5755.