Ignition key hard to start?

2014 MAZDA 5
237,000 MILES • 2.5L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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JONSOLOW13
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  • 133 POSTS
Over the past 3 months it's getting harder and harder for the key to make contact in the ignition lock and start the car. I now have to fiddle with it and sometimes hold it all the way to the right in the cylinder to get the car started. Then everything works fine. The problem was intermittent and now is much more frequent.

Is there a fix without buying a whole new ignition lock and key, and then either having to replace every lock in the car or carry two keys?

Thanks,

Jon
Oct 25, 2022 at 7:28 AM
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STRAILER
  • AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
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To start with we need to spray WD40 into the ignition switch lock to see if that helps. If not, the key lock will need to be replaced and you will have two keys for the car. I would get the parts from the dealer so they can be coded to your car before they are installed.

This guide may help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/ignition-switch-wont-turn-stuck

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.
Oct 25, 2022 at 11:50 AM
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