Car Question: Broken Key

[Kilgore Trout]

I have a Honda and I guess the key I've got was suffering from metal fatigue or something.

Anyway, I went to open the trunk and the key broke in half inside the lock.
Basically the whole key is in there except for the handle and the broken key is flush with the surface.
I tried getting some tweezers and was able to grab onto the top of broken key maybe 2/10 or 3/10 of a CM in; but, I can't get it to come out.

I called the dealer and he said I should get a new cylinder for $65. then it would cost $105 to rekey the tumblers in the cylinder to match my key, and then another $105. labour to switch out the old cylinder with the new. So that's about $310. after taxes.

I'm just wondering if there is some kind of plan B I can go after because $310. seems a bit much just to get a broken key problem solved.
Would a bodyshop or a general mechanic have some trick to fix the problem?

I've never had a broken key problem before so I'm just wondering if someone has had this problem can they let me know how they solved it.
Thanks for any ideas.

 

[red]

try a locksmith

 

[HG Hunter]

How about a new cylinder with a new key. No retooling to match your old key.
The only downside is you'll have a separate key for the trunk.

 

[landscaper]

if you can still open the trunk with the incar release sometimes you can push the key out from the inside. If you can get a good enough grip on the key it will come out your problem is the weather shield, a small spring loaded flap the stops winter from getting into the tumblers, if you can get vise grips or a pair of pliers on it it should come out

 

[dikfor]

try a stong magnet

Spray a little WD40 in the lock to make the key slide easier and then pull it out with a stong magnet

 

[rama putri]

Be thankful you get a whole new lock and key. One replacement key alone will cost me that much.

 

[mandrill]

try a locksmith

If you have a spare key, get a locksmith to clear the fragments of old key from the lock and use the spare to turn the ignition. It'll cost about $70. You can get a new key cut at the dealership so you can have a new spare.

 

[HAMSTER INSPECTOR]

How about a new cylinder with a new key. No retooling to match your old key.
The only downside is you'll have a separate key for the trunk.

I was just about to suggest the same thing. It is not that difficult to do yourself. As at the dealers, some of them will give you photo coppies of the shop manual and you can get step by step instruction on how to do the job.

You can also try taking the lock appart yourslf, sometimes with the cylinder out you can lube up the lock and there might be a hole at the other end of the cylinder for you to push out the broken key with a wire or nail.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Thanks for all the info.
You are right Hamster Inspector. You can slide out the lock cylinder out of trunk and kind of drag the broken key out from the side.

Stopped off at an auto body shop today, described my problem and guy come into parking lot with a few tools.

He popped out my lock cylinder with the broken key inside it. Disassembled the lock cylinder a bit and then he was able to drag the broken key out of the cylinder from the side.

Then he popped the repaired cylinder back in my trunk. Took him about 15 minutes. Everything good as new.
I gave him $40.00 cash which is a lot less than what Honda dealer had in mind for me.
Thanks again for input from everyone.