Keys jam in starter and trunk lock

I've got the limited edition 91 Miata. Love it! Original owner. Lately on several occasions the key won't turn in the ignition. I've also had the same problem with trying to open the trunk. Naturally I thought it was the key, but it's happening with the spare key as well. Anyone experienced this?

I have a 91 Miata as well and I have the same problem occasionally with the key jamming in the trunk. I have never figured it out. Just live with it. I would love to hear any suggestins from people who have experienced this. DDKhoo, if I hear anything I will pass the knowledge on to you.

Well, just got the news from Mazda service and they couldn't get the problem to happen (natch), hadn't ever encountered the problem before, quoted me $178 to replace the assembly--With labor it comes to $423 plus tax. That would include a small fee to reprogram it to work with my key. But that still doesn't solve the trunk lock problem. I'm going to speak with a locksmith and see if he has any suggestions before I fork out $400 +. I asked if I could have a trunk release installed to solve the problem of the key not turning (on occasion) in the trunk and was told no, must be factory installed when car is new he thought. Huge frustrated sigh...

Not sure how to solve your locking problems, guys. I guess just try some white lithium grease or WD-40 or something?<br><br>As for the trunk release, they can be retrofitted easily. I think the '94-'97 cars had them, and I had an aftermarket electric one several years ago (the cheap pushbutton broke and I never got around to fixing it, so I pulled it all out).

Thanks for the suggestions, designdood.<br><br>I tried WD-40, but not the lithium grease. Another suggestion was De-icer. The way it's been described to me, there are little springs and fittings of metal that slide up and come down to fit against the key cuttings. The guess is that one is not coming back down and that's the hard metal click that slips into place when it finally decides to let the key turn in the ignition or lock. <br><br>My next stop is a locksmith.<br><br>After the trunk release, Mazda said no--can't be installed unless my year (91) came with that option and it didn't. But after yesterday's adventure with them, I'll consider the possibility that they might be wrong. Went in with four things for them to check; they "couldn't find" the two-inch zipper separation in the rag top; didn't replace the near-dead battery in the key alarm but managed to set the alarm, which I couldn't turn off when I picked up the car, so the alarm blared when I "broke" into my car. That got their attention momentarily. Anyway, it was a no-charge two days in the shop, so I'm off to buy batteries.

actually, i have the same problems, mostly just with the trunk lock.. and yes.. i have a 91 brg spec ed also.. <br>go figure.. <br>-Thomas Kirchner (TJ)