I've had my seven for about five months now and within the past week or so the lock on the drivers side is starting to get a bit iffy. When I try to turn the key, it feels like sandpaper in there or something, and I'm afraid that if I don't do anything soon its just gonna stop working. Its getting really bad. Not sure what happened, but one day, as I was getting ready to wash my car, I noticed the lock felt like crap. The passenger side is perfectly smooth, though.

How can I get in there and look around to see if anything is broken, and if the lock is broken, will I be able to get it replaced without having to use a different key?

 

the drivers locks and door handles are common problems...you can either get used working pieces a number of times or new stuff from mazda...locks are $52 a piece with 2 keys and the handles were $75 each painted.

 

get a new one

 

Is there any way I can get new locks and still be able to use my 10AE keys?

 

can you not just replace the door lock cylinders on these cars? Or would that have been too easy?

 

I'm having the same problem. I can't even open my Driver's side lock anymore, so I'm currently goin in through the passenger side. I'm going to check a few things either today or tomorrow.
1. If there is just years of debris piled up inside the lock itself, and whether or not it can be cleaned/lubricated.
2. If I can replace the Driver's side with the Passenger's side lock.

I just need to find all of the screws that hold the interior of the door on hehe. If anyone has a guide to pulling all that off please post it, it will save me some time.

I'll let you know what I find by tomorrow.
Dave

 

Awesome. I was thinking about just opening it up and seeing what I could do with it. The thing I'm most worried about is having to have a set of keys to get into the car, and another one to start it.

 

Ok well I went in today to see what could be done about my tragic lock and I was able to fix it with very little effort. Just took some lubrication.
During the process I took pictures and decided to put together an idiot's guide to rx7 lock lubrication .
You can see it Here. It also demonstrates a little quirk in locking/unlocking your car that may be your only problem.
Dave

 

You driverside door lock Is worn out. Chances are, you could open It with any rx-7 key or simular dimension shape key. It's a problem often seen In these cars.

I have replaced both locks and Ign lock after seeing Aaron Cake open my car door right before my eyes. And yes, the dealership can "get new locks and still be able to use my 10AE keys.." I've rekeyed mine. Morningside Mazda did the rekeying (tumbling?) for free.

 

the ONLY lock that wrks on my car is the drivers side one, and that ones starting to crap on me .

 

YES you can; if it comes to that.

Just take the handle off, remove the clip holding the lock in and remove the little arm from the back of the lock (that little arm has to stay with it's original side). Do the same for the other side, swap, and reassemble.

 

I figured that much. But my lock works just fine now that I lubed it.
Someone better use the guide since I went to the trouble to make it
Dave

 

That works too

EyeOutThere's Quick Quick Lock Lubrication Guide
Step 1: Spray Graphite in thurr.
done

 

Oh, I love you guys, thanks for all the help, I'll definately use that guide sometime next weekend.

edit: silverrotor, how much did it cost you to replace those three locks?

and, austex, the link doesn't work

 

Poseur try it again, I was updating some software on my computer so my server was down. If it doesn't work just wait a while and try again. I keep having to update some stuff.

 

Thanks, thats a great guide. Thanks a lot for putting it together.