[s-cars] Twisted Key - Ignition sticky??

[Peter Schulz]

Tim:
Sorry for the late reply but I might be able to give some guidance...

Both keys are twisted from lock resistance.
Take that as a warning....

Lubricating the cylinder may only cloud the real issue.
The key is worn, and the duplicates are copies of the worn key.

I know this scenario too well...
2 years ago on the way home from the hospital with my wife and newborn son, the lock cylinder and ignition switch failed on my Indigo wagon. The finger from the lock cylinder to the switch broke.  I replaced the cylinder and switch and had the new cylinder rekeyed to match the existing set.

Fast forward two years and my wife complains of a sticking key that requires alot of force.
I took my VIN number and ID and had audi cut me a new key from the serial number on the cylinder.

The difference in the key shape from the new audi key to my everyday key and its duplicates were most pronounced at the key tip.
The new key has no resistance, and I made new duplicates from it. I threw away the old keys.

HTH
-Peter




At 10:31 PM 9/4/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>Message: 1
>From: "Tim Radbourne" <tr0910 at softhome.net>
>To: "'Franco Barber'" <feb at febsun.cmhnet.org>
>Cc: "'S-Car'" <s-car-list at audifans.com>
>Subject: RE: [s-cars] Twisted Key - Ignition sticky??
>Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 21:07:33 -0400
>
>I maybe overestimating the stickiness of the ignition.  I've only had
>the car 2 months, so can't comment on changes over time.  Yes it can be
>really bad if the steering wheel needs yanked, but that is not the issue
>here.  No other ignition oddities.
>
>Perhaps its just the weakness of the Wal Mart key stock that is the
>problem causing the key to have a slight twist in it (although I had a
>second key cut at a locksmith and it also has twisted).  The original
>factory key with the IR fob isn't twisted at all and the car has 140,000
>miles on it.  I would estimate both newly cut keys to be twisted about
>15 degrees and this hasn't changed in several weeks.  Perhaps its
>nothing to worry about...  Just didn't want to have the key break off
>inside the ignition.
>
>Anyone else have an S4 key they had cut from their local Wal Mart/Kmart
>develop a slight twist over time???
>
>Thanks....

Peter Schulz
1990 CQ (awaiting S2 3b engine transplant)
1991 200 20v TQW indigo mica
1991 200 20v TQW titanium grey
Chelmsford, MA USA
peter at audifans.com