Ignition key help please

[Johnb911]

When I bought the car I only received one old key.

Sometimes I have to fiddle wit the key to get it to unlock and turn to the start position after I have taken it out.
I usually just leave it in when parked in garage.


What are my options:
I can't see a tumbler/ key kit on the site.

Thanks for the help.

[HawgRyder]

For starters...use some dry graphite lubricant in the lock.
This will let the key slide in and out easier.
After that...see if the key is turning easily ... it may need to be recut if it's worn a lot.
By recut...I mean get a new blank...and have a good locksmith look at the rise and fall of the key to see if someone messed up when cutting it (sometimes they don't do a good job of following the ups and downs).
Bob

[CT Mike]

+1 on dry graphite!
I have seen key blanks on eBay and our host may have them too. They are different for various years.

[RSTarga]

do not use graphite, it will gum up the lock. The stuff to use is PTFE. Get it at a lock shop. Not cheap but very good. Blue works(a WD40 company) makes it under the name dry lubricant.
Keys are available on ebay or amazon, or here.
PS, your lock might be failing in which case you'll have to replace the assembly, expensive, try PTFE first.

[spuggy]

My locksmith, when I went to him to get a 911 key copied (blanks for which he both stocks and recognised immediately), told me, unasked, to use silicon lube liberally - like for 20, 30 seconds at a time - directly into the key hole with the little tube to flush out all the old, dried grease and oil that makes the pins stick in the lock. Which was already what I had been doing, and works great.

He strongly advised against graphite. Which I had already figured out some years before made a slight improvement for a week or three the first time you used it, little or no difference for the next few months, and then just made things worse, especially in cold weather... I threw mine away in 2005 and have used nothing but Tri-Flow silicon lube since. After you've used it a few times, you probably won't have to apply it again for years.

YMMV. My locks work great, except when I have to blow into them because they're frozen...

[HarryD]

+1 on Tri Flow.

When I was having trouble with my locks, I asked my locksmith what to do and without a pause, he said Tri Lube. I asked about graphite. He told me he likes the customers to use graphite as it keeps the customers coming back with gummed up locks time after time. I put a shot in my locks at every oil change.

[Johnb911]

Will try.

Thanks Guys.