Car key cut from VIN does not work on all locks?

[cTak]

So I bought a car from a family member that the lost the keys to. I towed it home and had the dealer cut a set of keys for it.

The key unlocks the passenger side door, but not the drivers side, or the igntion. While it may be a possibility the locks were changed at some point, could it also be that those 2 locks were just so wore out that the "NEW" key does not work?

The car is a 1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse, so it has about 15 years of use. Anyone have any tips/tricks I could try to get this key to work?

Someone said take a wire wheel to it and smooth it out a bit, I did that a little bit with no luck, but I'm not sure how much to take off.

And help would be great!!!!

Thanks!!!

[freakparade3]

Most likely the wafers are worn so a new key will not work. I have ran into this many times rekeying locks. As the wafers wear so does the key so they still work together. It's also possible the locks were rekeyed but I'd bet on wear.

[jimb]

It could also be dirt and grime. My van has a remote which I have always used until recently the drivers side door quit working with the remote. The key also not work until I sprayed the lock down and ran a key blank in and out of the lock for about 20 seconds.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

That year car does not appear to use a transpnder type key so one key fits all.

Those two locks take the most wear on a car. I think its a tip stop key so it could be the back of the lock plug is worn from use.

Try lubing the lock slightly and run the key in and out a few times wiping if off ocassionaly to get the dirt out.

Then insert the key and pull back slightly to take up for the worn plug while trying to turn the key.

[Jim Cook]

What is the best lube for cleaning a lock?
I can remember my father tell me to not use an oil in a lock because it attracts dirt. He would always suggest powered graphite.

That year car does not appear to use a transpnder type key so one key fits all.

Those two locks take the most wear on a car. I think its a tip stop key so it could be the back of the lock plug is worn from use.

Try lubing the lock slightly and run the key in and out a few times wiping if off ocassionaly to get the dirt out.

Then insert the key and pull back slightly to take up for the worn plug while trying to turn the key.

[lunchb0x]

I know most people here are going to disagree with me here but I always use WD40 which is good for the weather we got which was always humid, rains for 4 months of the year and 32c all day,so when it rains and moisture got into the locks the graphite would go pasty and the wafers don't move so smoothly, and NEVER use greese because the dust will stick to it and clog the lock up.

[Safecrackin Sammy]

WD40 Will work good to flush the lock and leave a protective coating.

Silicone would work better if it were a new clean lock .

Beleieve it or not, alot of the older eurpoean car locks were packed full of lithium grease from the factory.

[lunchb0x]

Beleieve it or not, alot of the older eurpoean car locks were packed full of lithium grease from the factory.

Japanese car manufactures have been doing this for the last couple of years now and they put like a hole tube in each lock.

[raimundo]

Just thinking about it, the wafers wear and the required key must be higher to make up for that, and the key wears down. I would put the key in the key machine with a piece of matchbook cover wrapped around it to raise it up in the jaws so that the copy comes out cut less deep than the key being copied.
If this does not solve it, you can still recut the same key to a deeper depth, so you lose nothing.

[n2oah]

Use a silicone-based lubricant.