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JackRabbit · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject: OEM keys

I found a couple of OEM keys at a dealership near Pittsburgh and decided to replace my old copy. They couldn't cut them for whatever reason so I took them to my local True Value. To be sure he could cut them, he first used one of his blanks and cut it from my "original" and it worked perfectly in the doors and the ignition. Then he cut my two originals and although they work flawlessly in the doors and hatch, at first they wouldn't work at all in the ignition. With a little force I was able to get them to turn to the Accessory and then a little more finally got the engine to Start.

Does anyone have any idea what the issue is? The dealership said these were exact keys for my car and they work flawlessly in the doors and hatch but are still pretty stiff in the ignition....?

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'79 Porsche 924
'05 Honda Civic
'07 BMW K1200R
'78 Honda Express
'52 Willy's
'58 Wheel Horse

Mike924 · Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Posts: 2601 Location: IoW UK

There are always slight errors introduced by copying key, especially if the 'master' is worn. I wouldn't worry about it.

Get hold of some graphite powder from a hardware store, apply some to each key and operate the lock a few times. Repeat for each lock a couple of times a week and things will soon smooth themselves out.
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1985 Porsche 924 'Lux', Kalahari Beige (my ex)
1993 Porsche 968 Coupe, Midnight Blue, 6 spd

'There is no substitute for a little grease under your fingernails.' - Chrenan, 924board.org

968rz · Joined: 21 Aug 2006 Posts: 537 Location: S. E. Wisconsin

You could also try running a wire wheel on them to "wear them out" like the old one. True Value probably did this to knock off any burs but it may a bit more.
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Rick
79 924 coupe Petrol Blue 3spd auto (wife's DD)
93 968 coupe Amazon Green 4spd Tip (my DD)

Mahatma Gadhni · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 162 Location: Croatia

I bought an original blank key on eBay because the one that came with the car wasn't an original and it was pretty worn too. There were no problems with cutting the new key and it works better than the one that came with the car.

Maybe there's something wrong with the ignition lock?
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1984 924 2.0 NA

JackRabbit · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:05 am Post subject:

see that's the thing... the sad looking copy i got with the car and all the other copies walmart made work flawlessly... smooth turn and no problems at all... the OEM originals work flawlessly in the doors and hatch but are very stiff in the ignition.... i just don't get it... the only difference I can see is that the OEM keys look a bit thicker.
_________________
'79 Porsche 924
'05 Honda Civic
'07 BMW K1200R
'78 Honda Express
'52 Willy's
'58 Wheel Horse

Mahatma Gadhni · Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 162 Location: Croatia

I've noticed that the difference between an original key and the copy that came with the car is that original has a groove along it that serves for guiding the key I guess, and a copy didn't have that. This caused a non-original key to have a bit of play in the locks.
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1984 924 2.0 NA