Lock Won't Turn? Please Help!

"Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment" (evanmcm) 09/24/2014 at 00:30 • Filed to: help, lock, stuck, key, dead battery, troubleshooting, acura, mdx

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So, it's rare that I can't figure out a problem, but this is just silly.

Went outside to move the MDX today, and the battery is dead. Ok, no big deal. Can jump it. Just have to get inside. Obviously keyless entry won't work. Try the manual lock in the door handle and...nothing. Key slides in fine, there is no corrosion at all. This lock, as far as I know, has never had a problem. It will not turn with the key in the lock. It doesn't feel like it's stuck, it feels like any lock feels when you try to turn it with the wrong key...as if the pins aren't set properly. However obviously the key is the correct key, tried both (?) and wiggled/jiggled it a bunch just to make sure. Nothing.

Does anyone have any idea why this could be? Not aware of any car that would lock you out if the battery is dead. Don't want to waste money on getting someone to pop it open but running out of options. Any ideas? It's a 2005.

Thanks so much in advance.

heliochrome85 > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 00:32

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doesn't the mdx have other doors you can try or is it the same for every door?

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 00:33

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Stupid question, but have you tried the hatch as well? Not sure why the actual door cylinder wouldn't work.

Manuél Ferrari > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 00:34

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Are you sure it's your car?

Arben72 > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 00:35

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I know on bimmers it can take quite a bit of force. But then again my pilot was very easy to unlock (still had a battery charge though). Spray it with a penetrating oil and try in an hour/tommorow.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > heliochrome85 09/24/2014 at 00:36

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I wish. Only one lock cylinder, on the driver's door. Nowhere else on the exterior :/

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 09/24/2014 at 00:36

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Same...literally makes no sense. No cylinder on the hatch :/

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Manuél Ferrari 09/24/2014 at 00:37

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....shut up Rusto this was supposed to be an eyes-only operation :p

heliochrome85 > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 00:39

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penetrating oil and prayer.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Arben72 09/24/2014 at 00:39

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Will give that a try. Have an old BMW too, very familiar with how much of a pain in the ass those locks can be :p I put as much force as I could comfortably put on it before it felt like the key was going to start giving out. You can hear it hit something inside, but I'll give it a shot. Have some sitting around in the garage.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > heliochrome85 09/24/2014 at 00:42

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Yeah that's about where I'm at. Giving that a shot right now I think.

mcseanerson > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 00:46

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Patrick Swayze has your key.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > mcseanerson 09/24/2014 at 00:54

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I was a lot closer to this than I'd like to admit today. Good thing there were no bricks near by.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 00:59

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Sometimes you just miss the good old days of a simple key. One for the trunk and another for everything else.

Steve in Manhattan > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 01:02

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How is this possible? Acura should be able to unlock this thing for you from space.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 09/24/2014 at 01:02

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Well, I don't mind keyless entry...never had a problem with it yet. Battery in this car has needed replacing for a while now so I totally had this coming. But the actual lock cylinder deciding to go on strike is just the craziest thing.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Steve in Manhattan 09/24/2014 at 01:03

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If this was possible I would have definitely done it. Unfortunately I lost my Acura space laser unlocking code number :/

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 01:05

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but at least you would have had a few more cylinders to try the keys on.

Steve in Manhattan > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 01:07

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That's an expensive car, and this isn't something you should have to deal with ... but hey - I'm the guy that believes customer service should be good enough to make the brand proud.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Steve in Manhattan 09/24/2014 at 01:09

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It really is at Acura...I mean the chances of this happening are very low. With a dead battery there is literally not much that can be done unfortunately.

Also, it's old and beat up and has 220k miles on it :p

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 09/24/2014 at 01:09

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Yeah I wish there was at least one on the passenger side.

Steve in Manhattan > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 01:12

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Well, Japanese firms brag about reliability - heard a call on Car Talk once where an LS400 went 300K without even changing the spark plugs. Acura should step up. Just my opinion ...

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Steve in Manhattan 09/24/2014 at 01:14

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Haha that isn't unheard of. A mere 220k is totally unacceptable lol

mcseanerson > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 01:14

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Or sparkplugs, Honestly though, I used to work in a glass warehouse and also have a good local glass guy, sometimes this can be the cheaper route.

Steve in Manhattan > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 01:15

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And remember - your Japanese car should go at least 240K - that's the distance to the moon. Ideally, it should be able to come back as well.

Aaron James > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 02:06

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Just light the whole thing on fire. The heat should free that cylinder right up.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Aaron James 09/24/2014 at 02:26

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That's kind of my sentiment as well.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Steve in Manhattan 09/24/2014 at 02:31

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Yeah it's really pretty useless if you can't get back from the moon.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > mcseanerson 09/24/2014 at 02:31

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Haha if only. That actually sounds like a good setup. Very convenient.

thebigbossyboss > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 09/24/2014 at 06:46

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Really? Even on an acura?

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > thebigbossyboss 09/24/2014 at 13:14

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Yeah, by 2005 I guess they decided one was enough. I mean, it really should be. This is a strange situation.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 12/26/2014 at 21:51

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Interesting that you show a picture of an E34. On my 525i I learned the hard way that there really isn't a mechanical connection between the cylinder and locking mechanism, with the exception of a secret backup system. In order to manually unlock the car you had to use the passenger door, pull up on the handle to engage a mechanical override and then turn the key; it would have been nice to know this before I climbed partially through the ski-sack opening in the trunk and pulled up the rear locking knob with the wiper arm from the 320i.

Check to see if the Acura has a similar system. Your owner's manual will probably tell you, but like mine it's probably locked inside the car.

I just noticed that this is an old thread - oops. I'm sure you managed to get in the car by now...

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 12/29/2014 at 16:34

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Haha, no worries.

At the dealer they were able to find out it was in fact a broken physical connection inside. The shit was basically all messed up somehow.

Ricardo Landgrave > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 05/13/2015 at 16:59

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I have a Volvo S60 and you can’t see the cylinder on the trunk, you have to look around where the license plate lights are and it’s covered by a plastic. Maybe yours is hidden like that?

EDIT: Damn this is from 2014 xD, I came here looking for E34 pictures, I want one. Why did you posted that BTW?

AaronCM5 > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 06/29/2015 at 18:40

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is that your M5? have you taken it to the HAWK weekend at Road America? it looks familiar. the e34 M5 is the coolest car on the planet.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > AaronCM5 07/22/2015 at 00:59

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Noooooo I wish it was though. I’ve wanted an E34 M5 for a while now. I actually used to be at RA a lot, haven’t been in a while though. Heard this past weekend was great there.

AaronCM5 > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment 07/25/2015 at 15:34

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that is a shame. I have a ‘92. I absolutely love it. but to be honest, any e34 (preferably a stick) will do.