Has anyone had a parts car that the key works in their running car, or vice versa? This seems very strange to me considering this is true for me. The parts car belonged to a friend of mine, and he tried his key in the door lock, as I was talking to the previous owner about buying it. Sure enough the key works everywhere in the car. The hatch lock cylinder doesn't work with either key though.

 

Yes, I've got two cars that are interchangable, I've seen many other FC's that my key's open though.

 

2 generations of the durangos ago, any key worked on any durango (from that gen)

 

ok ive had 3 Fcs any fc key would work in any of the 3 and one all u needed waz a screwdriver....

mazda did somting wrong there

 

I just had my car broken into the other day and they used a key to enter through drivers door. In a lot of our cars pretty much any key that fits can/will open our cars. They also tried to start it and left ignition in on position. Thank god I have an immobilizer cause they couldnt get it started. Turns out they stole another car down the street a bit and the cops caught them.

**** my pants when I went out to my car and found it broke into, I feel so violated!
They stole some things from inside my car tho that are gone forever but left my stereoo and sub and amp. I consider myself lucky.

Also I consider the any key open thing to be a bad thing, but a good thing as to at least they didnt have to break the window etc. or slm the ignition. Everyone should get an immobiler tho it save my beautuful Eve (Rx7).

Terry

 

The key for my friend '93 Probe GT worked in my FC, and vice-versa.

 

hahaha, i had an FC key that worked in all 5 of my FC's, and would open and start my friends 89 Probe GT

 

the key from my 78 celica would start and open the doors to my 87 mazda. kinda funny though my 78 could and would open and start the 87
but the 87 culdn't open or start the 78

 

Okay guys...

The reason the key fits/works (even though it is the wrong key) is because your key locks are so full of crap and dirt that the key guides and pins in the lock are all gummed up and stuck in place.

Clean the key cylinders out, then only the correct key will work.

 

Yes you are right but how many will do this? And some are just worn right dowm. And also in my case means pulling tje ignition cylinder as well...

There is IMO a design flaw in these tho cause in my 41 years, I have not seen this problem in that many cars, but have seen it time and again in the RX7,(3 of my RX7's could be opened with any similar key.)

 

god, thats scary is there any way we could replace it w/ a aftermarket lock? something to keep other ppl w/ FC's out?

 

Yeah, clean out your switch.

<Saddly shakes head>.

 

Actually Mark, The keys look identical on mine. I just thought this was strange. What are the odds of that? By that I mean, does anyone know how many combinations there are for the car?

 

there are 10000 possible combinations... so figuring that there are about 200000 FCs built and sent world wide, then there are 20 other FCs in the world that have the same exact key.

 

my S5 GTUs key fits in my friend's S4 SE.....he borrows my keys to turn his car on too.....and vice versa.

 

Icemark is right clean out switches. It will make a difference.

 

fc's and fb's have a 4 digit key, who cares though? its not like these cars are worth stealing, for the most part

 

my key only works in my car havent tryed the parts car...... got to try that later....

 

This is not a design flaw, but a common problem in any old tumbler lock. Dirt inside the lock makes the tumblers stick up in their slot, increasing the chances of similar keys working. Manufacturers tend to use the same type of key for all of their cars of similar age, which is why Mazda keys tend to open other Mazdas. Years ago myself and several friends all had Toyotas of the same type, and we found our keys opened each others cars. After a thorough clean with spray lube, only the right key worked.

 

yes i have notice this too. man i need to get a better alarm so my car doesnt get key'ed

 

Can u spray them out w/ wd40, or do u recommend something else?

 

yes i would like to know how the proper way to clean your key hole can i take that red plastic tube that comes on most spray cans and put that in the hole and just spray the inside with wd40

 

Alternatively, do as I did... replace all the locks. I went to this extent. I could have cleaned out the tumblers but I didn't like how the windows to the locks (minus the Ign Lock) were absent. Truly, I feel much safer after doing this. I have opened many 7 doors In my day.

 

also, there are a set amount of mester keys for car types for cars our age. some models only had seven different master sets, so you would have a one in seven chance of opening a car other than your own. there would be a different set for each model trim level, so a gxl key, for example, couldn't open a turbo II. the dirt thing is true though.

disclaimer - this wasn't told to me by a professional, merely someone who was told it by a mechanic at a toyota dealership. apparently mark iv supras had only seven different master keys, and the dealer had a copy of each so they could make copies of owners keys. this doesn't apply for the new chip keys that lexus ond other up-brands use however.

 

That's pretty much it. Spray plenty in and then work the key in and out repeatedly to work the cleaner thoroughly through the mechanism. You'll be amazed at the amount of black gunk that comes out...