I noticed that my rear hatch and passenger side keyholes have a small metal cover on the inside of the the keyhole that cover the hole (Maybe to prevent water from getting inside?) when the key is not inserted.

It looks like this piece is broken on the drivers side and so not only can water get in, but it sometimes gets in the way of the key fitting into the hole smoothly when I try too lock/unlock the door.

Is this something I can repair, or will I need to look into a new handle if I want it to function correctly?

Thanks,
Drew

 

Last I looked it was plastic, but you can see it, and possibly fix it when you take the key assembly out, and maybe I remember someone cutting and superglueing a piece of plastic on. Since the keyslot lights up I'm fairly certain it's plastic. Hence why it broke...

It was never an Issue for me, but my door sensors were on the fritz at some point on mine, and I had to cut the wire to the bulb because it would slowly drain the battery, and I got a look at the plastic bit, so I know you can see it / get to it.

 

Yeah it's some kinda plastic, I have the same issue on my MX-6s, you can probably find the same part from some mid 90s Mazda in the junkyard.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...racked-432403/

 

That happened to mine yesterday, and I took the cylinder out and just shook it till the old plastic fell out. I have not looked into a new one, because mine is kept in the garage and only drivin in decent weather. So I don't worry about the rain or moisture getting into it.

 

NICE Find thanks! I did not even know what to call that piece!

 

I had that same problem on my driver's door last summer - I managed to get the piece out with some tweezers, but like you, my concern is the lock being open to rain.... thankfully the car doesn't go out in the wet :-)

 

I replaced the broken plastic pieces in my locks with some stainless ones i cut out of some light gauge material. Pretty easy actually. Looks factory, but they don't light up of course.

There is an old thread about this somewhere on this forum.

 

A locksmith can VERY easily replace the broken keyhole door with a new one for a few bucks. Just take the cylinder in, they should have those parts in stock. I've had it done a number of times on different cars.

You can go for the OEM plastic one so the keyhole light shines through or a metal shutter that's more durable. IMHO, go for the metal - the plastic will just break again and the keyhole light is pretty useless.

Dale

 

Dale if I do go for the plastic OEM ones where would I be able to find them?

 

Have a locksmith source them for you. If they don't have them in stock they can get them no problem.

Also, locksmiths can change the "tumblers" in the lock to match it to a new key VERY easily. I've done this to a few FD's that had one key for the ignition and one for the door. They can usually do that while you wait for just a few bucks.

There isn't much fancy about the locks on the FD, it's very standard stuff for a locksmith.

Dale

 

Thanks Dale!