My friend lost his only key to his 1991 FC. The doors are unlocked, and he tried to turn it on with a screwdriver but it only messed up the ignition and didn't start the car (he jammed it in with a hammer (desperate)).

Any suggestions..? He needs to have the car turn on once to bring it back home from a friends house. After that he'll probably wait until his title comes in the mail (just bought and registered the car. all papers are LOCKED in the glovebox) and go to mazda to get a key cut.

 

Your friend needs to get a slap on the head....hard.
Jam a screwdriver ...nice.
A locksmith would have been able to make a key...easily. Now he needs to remove the ignition switch and replace it. And he also needs to get a key made by a locksmith for the door. So now he will have 2 different keys for ign and door. ****** DUH.

Since he already jammed a screwdriver, hammer it in and it will unlock.

 

cant you remove the ignition switch from the lock? its only attatched with 1 screw and you can turn on the car with anything you want.

 

Now you need to get a centre punch or a flat blade screw driver and a hammer and slowly work the two bolts that hold the ignition to the steering column. Then pull the switch off the back of the ignition as mentioned by previous poster and you can use whatever to turn the switch. You need the ignition of the steering column because if you're trying to drive it somewhere to get replaced now your mate messed it up you need to get around the steering lock.

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Or when he gets replacement ignition he could give them a door lock, get the key made for the door lock and get the new ignition rekeyed to suit his new door lock key. Hope that in some way made sense. So one key.

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Use trunk lock, much easier to remove and contains all the info to make a new key.

Im not one to scream search but this seems to come up every month.

Jamming punches breaking bolts, just take the ignition out its about 5 minutes work and nothing will be broken. Remove plastic around column its all right there.

 

You could look up the car's key code via its ViN at a Mazda dealer and have the dealer cut a new key instead of punching or replacing he locks. Only one key, then you can have that key copied by any locksmith.

 

Thanks for finally providing the best answer cluosborne.

 

except he now needs to get the ignition re keyed to match the car.

next time stop thinking that because it works in the movies that it works in real life... hammering an ignition isn't that easy to do, you will likely break the column before it actually releases.. take the bus, rent a car or hitch a ride with a friend until you pop out a door lock and have a locksmith make a new key or have the dealer cut one from the VIN.

you can get the car started easily by removing the single phillips screw that holds the ignition to the column under the steering shroud but you're still left with the steering lock. since he fucked the ignition cylinder there's virtually no way he is going to get out the cylinder from the column, at least without hours of careful drilling, good going.

makes me wonder why i like my FC when i hear ghetto stories like this, smack your 'friend' upside the head.

 

I don't see how you can break the two bolts with a punch, you're slowly and carefully tapping the rounded bolt heads to work them out because theres nothing to get onto with regular tools. If you break a bolt you're doing everything wrong!
Being a panel beater I've had to do it hundreds of times.
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I can't believe how easy it would be to steal these cars. Or is every car that easy to steal?

 

how do you figure? they're easy to break into but no easier to steal than any other car from the 80's.

i used to park my FC outside my apartment, i slept just fine and it was always there in the morning. was it a good idea? no, but i didn't have much alternative. this ain't no hoopdee FC either.

 

Well you guys are saying you remove one screw and you're basically able to start it with anything. Or am I reading that wrong?

I don't have A/C so when it gets hot I usually just park my car with my windows open/unlocked.

 

You'll be able to start it but turn your first corner and steering will lock that's why I say remove the ignition from the column. That's why thieves don't just pull off the switch the do it via barrel.

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yes, i specifically said it can be started but the steering will lock. to remove the ignition lock cylinder it has to be able to turn, ie key in the ignition and functioning still. the lock pin has to be drilled out.

 

Take the title to the closest Mazda Dealership. They will cut you a new key based on the VIN. As long as n one has changed locks or the ignition the key will work like a factory key.

This is your best option, just make sure name on the title matches the person's ID when they go to the dealer.

 

Wait why? Does it not attach like every other ignition barrel? Via the two snapped off bolts through the bracket on top? If it does then there is no need to be able to release it, you just undo the two bolts and it drops off. The bolts are a pita though. If it is different I do apologise as I cant compare, my fc has a ford laser ignition but I've never ever seen any ignition barrel mount and lock in a different way

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Did you guys not read where he said he is waiting for the title?
Take out trunk lock, bring to locksmith, walk out with keys.
Simple amd easy, no need to deal with douchy parts guy at the dealer.

I have had to get keys made twice, its very easy.

 

Ya,but the ignition is fubarred now.(nice friends)
couple choices to ponder:
1: Drop the switch off the column,take the Guts out and start it.
2: get another ignition switch,but then you will have 2 keys.
3: find a whole set USED and drop the whole set on the car.( I just got a whole car set for 60 bucks)
4: spend your paycheck and get a NEW set.

 

i'd have to check an FC column again but most every barrel also has a locking mechanism to keep it from coming out without the key in.

 

Hey guys so apparently my friend f'd up the ignition yesterday and should have just waited til today to make a key. He bought a blank at home depot (mazda had none in stock) and had towne mazda in redwood city cut it from the vin. Came back and they only work on the doors... Wouldn't open the glove box (strange??) or turn ignition (moved steering wheel to try to unlock). So he had the car towed home for a whopping $80!

Anyways, the ignition is busted up. Does anyone know of a locksmith that would give a hookup? He unscrewed the left part of the ignition (wires) and actually got the car to start up but the steering wheel lock would unlock so the it had to get towed. Tried to remove the bolts on top to unlock the steering wheel but it did not work.

If anyone has suggestions of what to do from here.. please text him his name is Chris (408)-913-8876

 

What you mean it didn't work? Couldn't work them loose?

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This is correct.

Also, his "new" key won't work because he crammed a ******* screwdriver into the cylinder, as you stated above.

 

understood, was thinking that maybe if someone searches in the future they will not make the same mistake

he said he had the key made from the VIN, and it was not working in all the locks.
This is why, so long as you can get into the car, you take the trunk lock out. It literally takes 5 minutes. The "key" here is that the trunk lock contains all the information to make a single key that will work.

His money spent on the VIN cut key is wasted.

Of course this is saying you were using the car and know it only had one key. You get a used car with no key and you dont know if one or more locks had been changed and required separate keys.

 

actually it probably would have worked fine, if he didn't destroy the ignition lock. he said the key worked in the doors so it should have also worked to start the car since the original post said "lost his only key" which lends to believe all the cylinders were original.

moral of the story, don't use a screwdriver to try and start your car, this isn't gone in 60 seconds.