If you bought a used vehicle, or your vehicle has been broken into, you will want to rekey the door lock. You never know who has access to keys. Rekeying a lock involves adapting the tumbler part to accept a new key.
Rekeying vehicle locks sounds intimidating, but it is straightforward and you don't have to be a locksmith. Here are tips to rekey a vehicle door lock.
Prepare to Work
For this project, you need:
- screwdriver
- marker
- wire or straight pin
- needle-nose pliers
- dremel tool (optional)
- jeweler's file
- plug follower (locksmith tool used for rekeying cylinder locks) and cylinder follower ( small pipe commonly made from brass)
- ring remover (locksmith tool)
- blank key rekeying kit
Get the model of your current lock system, and use it to buy a rekeying kit. Ensure all the components you need are included in the kit.
Detach the Old Lock
The lock face, or door knob, is commonly held in place by one clip. Slide the wire or pin into the small hole under the clip to access the interior lock. Set a container under the work area to catch parts in case they fall.
Detach the lock cylinder, the metal tube, and the cylinder follower. This cylinder shouldn't be confused with the ignition cylinder, which works the same, but it is another type of cylinder. Remove the cylinder sleeve first, then press the cylinder away for the assembly. Set the cylinder aside in a small container.
Remove the ring retainer with the ring remover. Insert the current key in the lock as if to unlock the door to separate the upper and lower pins.
Remove the cylinder plug ( the part of the cylinder that accepts the key) with the plug follower, which will keep the upper pins in a raised position. Detach the lower pins.The lower pins commonly have different lengths.
Replace the Key
Install the new lower pins. The new pins will be color-coded, so you now where they go. Slide the blank key in the cylinder. Mark the blade positions of the tumbler on the blank key. Use a dremel tool or jeweler's file to cut the shape. Avoid cutting below the marks, and check the fit often. Try the key in the lock. The tumblers should fit evenly on the tumbler plug, and the sharp side of the pins should contact the key. If the key isn't working properly, cut another key. The old key should be discarded, as not to confuse it with the new key.
Take the new key to have a copy made, and store the copy in a safe place. If the lock doesn't work, or you don't trust your skill, contact a locksmith business, such as The Lock Shop.
