ok so i am a second gen guy so you have to bear with me. I just bought an 85 se from an auction for 500 bucks. the paint is perfect and the interior is awesome. The only problem is this... no key. I just used my second gen key to open the door but no such luck with the ign. so here is my question: what can i do? can i hotwire it or will the ignition lock? also any information that may be helpful in getting it running. I have read the "Bringing it back to life" thread and it all seems common sense, tune up etc... Is there anything special i should know? any help is appreciated as i need to get the car off the storage lot's property by tomorrow night and i would like to drive it.

 

You need to contact a lock smith and have them make a key for you. You can either take the door lock assembly off and get a code or just have them come out and make the key on the spot. You will need to present them with a title or proof of purchase.

 

i had heard if you have vin, mazda dealership can make one for ya?

any truth in that doc?

 

you need the vin number, title in your name and a valid i.d. then you are going to have to take off the passenger side door lock cylinder and get the key code off of it. then the dealer can make you a key

 

Or you could buy all new lock cylinders from Mazdatrix.

I'm not sure the dealership's can still make keys from the VIN all the way back to 1985.

 

Dent puller and a screwdriver... JK.

Get the dealer key. And 1985 won't have anything to do with it. Mazda is a very organized company.
Always has been. There are only a few cuts so the vin can tell them what cut your key has.

 

You can also try to source some other first gen keys. I've had 3 first gens and keep all of the keys, some of the allow to me open the doors and some allow me to use the ignition.

Also I got a good deal on the forum, after someone tried to steal my car by starting it with a screw driver, for all 2 door locks, hatch locks, ignition and 2 keys for around like ~75 or something?? Good deal.

 

I also have an 85 se and went through the dealership to get keys made no problem. Just need your current registration and Driver License. If your in Seattle I would go to University Mazda. The only problem you might run into is if the previous owner replaced the locks on the car and if you bought the car at an auction there is no one you can ask. So just to be safe I'd take the door lock with you when you go have a new key made.

 

we always kept first gen keys that we would find in the salvage yards and any cars we disposed of... for this very reason... never know when you will need one of these keys... like someone else said, "mazda only made a few cuts"... find your local first gen guys and try out all of their keys at the house after you tow it home... if that doesn't work, call a locksmith... g/l

 

I went through the same problem a few weeks ago when I got my new 83 gsl. I took the door locks but both of them were too worn out and they were both different. Also the ing key may have been changed. You have to remember these cars are old. Your best bet call a mobile locksmith have them come out and make a new key. Normally my lock shop changes $75.00, but I put it on a tow dolly and it was $20.00. Just my thoughts

 

Also can bypass the entire key system with a remote start alarm. You'll have to disable the steering lock but that's no biggie.

 

thanks for the help, i just decided to throw it on a dolly and have a locksmith come out for the $50 service charge and $20 an hour.

 

So you got your keys made for 70 bucks? You get two of them?

 

Remember to put the rear wheels on a dolly. Neutral is not good enough to tow.

Which is a problem because you need to unlock the front steering to tow with the front.

Call a tow truck with a platform that can put the whole vehicle up on it. Or see if you can find a
mobile locksmith.

 

push button start all day...just make sure you dont park in a bad neighborhood haha

 

I always add 2 fuel pump switches to my rides. One fake one real.

Label the fake one FUEL PUMP SWITCH... as a prize for idiots with a dent puller.

 

You don't have to put rear wheels on a dolly. You can tow with the front wheels on the dolly. Putting it in neutral is fine. If you tow for a very long distance then it is recommended to disconnect the drive shaft or install a elbow fitting in the transmission filler hole and fill it to the top.

 

the only place on a mazda 85 and back to find the key code is on the pasenger door lock cylinder. with the vin num, the dealer can get the right type of key, but to get the correct key ''cut'' you need the code off of the side of the lock cylinder.

 

I just find the fuel pump fuse and make a note in my Palm Pilot of where it is, then in the rare case that I park in a bad neighborhood I can just pull the fuse and pocket it until I return.

 

call parts store, order new ign lock set (probably $10-$20), install and go

 

Man, I wish that were true.

But it is not.

Welcome to reality!
LOCK ASSEMBLY COLUMN 84-85 76-2900-FA54 $201.78 Column Lock Assemblies, Supplied with Switch and Keys LOCK SET 84-85 BLACK 09-010C-FA54-65 $367.64 Lock sets are column, doors, storage bins, glove box and hatch w/same keys

 

so i had the key made, but it ended up costing $200. The chick answering the phone was brand new and meant 119.95 not 19.95/hr. ( i didn't find this out till after he keyed it). oh well, not much i can do... at least i have a key now and my car is home. let the project begin!

 

Grats on the key. Enjoy the ride...

===

Yea on the mechanism, he must be thinking of like old school GM lock cylinder or the like. The RX7 is an electro-mechanical assembly.

 

The easiest is to walk the passenger side lock into a locksmith. Only takes a few minutes to pull the doorpanel, etc. Gives you a chance to tuneup your window regulator and spray silicon lube in the lower channels, too. Once you have the digital code for the lock be sure to record it on your Palm or cellphone and computer, too. I had a couple of badly worn keyd that only worked sometime, so I took good digital photos with My Nikon 4200 and emailed them to "keys4clasics.com" and they quoted me a fair price for recovering the digital code and cutting new keys, and it worked.

I also tried calling two local Mazda dealers and they told me the 85 and before were out of their database.

 

out of there data base i had them make me a new key right at the dealer ship gave him my vin he looked it up cut it used the old key after he was done to check out his work and that was it key cost me 5.99 and cut was part of that price. they guy i got the car from had a walmart key for it and i wanted one that actually said mazda on it i use the old key for a spare so i never get locked out.