so apparently last night when I went to get some food with some friends, I left with out my keys, and my other friend moved my car from the drive way so his brother could leave. however, when I got back, he told me got the wrong key jammed in there, and took awhile to get it out. I asked him how the fuck he accomplished that, and said he didn't know it was the big black one that got them in the car, and that turned the car on. I now have a jammed ignition, and it's a pain in the ass to start. It takes me a good 30 to a minute, plus my impatience with it to get the key to turn to the ignition. I put some lubricant inside it, and it helps a little, but would a lock smith be able to fix something like this, or is this fucked, and am I looking at expensive shop repairs?

now, also, on the ethical side, is my friend obligated to pay some money if this is the case, or is it my fault for not taking my keys with me?

what kind of dumb motherfuckers are you hanging out with? Jesus

Probably expensive repairs

yes he should fucking pay for it, he broke your fucking car! That's not an honest mistake, that's a stupid fucking careless mistake. He pays every cent.

What sort of car?

That could make a huge difference.

I'm assuming that the tumblers inside the lock itself got damaged.


You may want to try running a pencil "lead" (graphite) on the correct key and insert it into the key hole.

Have you got any mates that work in garages that could take a look? You might need a new ignition barrel although I'm not sure what these are like on newer cars.

YEP NEW IGNITION CHAMBER....SAME FUCKING THING HAPPENED TO ME......DID THE FRIEND EVEN OFFER TO PAY FOR IT? I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE OF A FRIEND HE IS....

I was told by a friend who knows cars that it's probably the lock, when the keys gos in it's not pushing up the teeth correctly so it's hard to unlock the wheel, turn the keys, and turn on the car. He said a lock smith would be able to replace it and would cost about $50 bucks.

Try WD-40-ing the tumbler first. The ignition switch is generally down past the tumbler, so you won't hurt anything as long as you're reasonably sparing with the magic juice.

I changed the lock barrel on my El Camino once.
It took and hour to get it out and about 5 minutes to get the new one in. The part was only $8. Even for a new car, I don't think it will be too expensive but that shouldn't matter to you because your friend better pay for all of it.

I wouldn't use WD-40 on any lock. When it gets dirty it can gum up. I second using graphite lubricant.

japmn wrote:I changed the lock barrel on my El Camino once.
It took and hour to get it out and about 5 minutes to get the new one in. The part was only $8. Even for a new car, I don't think it will be too expensive but that shouldn't matter to you because your friend better pay for all of it.

I wouldn't use WD-40 on any lock. When it gets dirty it can gum up. I second using graphite lubricant.

Did you have to purchase the part from a dealer, or were you able to get it through a lock smith?

(I already put graphite in it.)