I had a set of all different keys when I bought my two Datto coupes. I found that on one coupe, one key would open the door and a different shaped key was needed to turn the ignition.

Mate of mine was being a smart ass in the carpark one day and thought he might be able to open my drivers side door with his Nissan Bluebird key, to our surprise he could. No luck starting the ignition tho as the other key was needed. I soon taught him not to jump in my car with his key.

I have sent a scan of my 2 keys to the Photo Album , under Body & interior. I hope it gets there OK. Top key is Ing and bottom one is for the Fuel cap , doors etc. I have tryed to use the keys in the other one's locks with no luck at all.

Hope this helps a little.

Regards
Andrew (amshaw)

I had a similar problem once with a Mini I owned, and I popped along to the locksmith and he sorted it all out. Pretty cheap too from memory.

As I thought my local Locksmith was next to useless. I just went down to see him and he thinks the only fix is to get a new ingution barrel. He is going to ring with a price.

Im not real happy as everybody said they have fixed the problem with the help of there locksmith. I said that others have had it done , but all he could say was "But they are diffearnt Locks " with differant style keys.

I must be supid or the locksmith hasent a clue what he is talking about ??? Now Im just confused , what do you think ??

Regards
amshaw
Aus

wuzzup amshaw, it sounds to me like this locksmith doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. Pardon my language... Any locksmith worth their salt would be able to code two locks together. It sucks that you are stuck so far out in the bush. I really don't know what to tell you. I guess you could remove the tumblers from the ignition switch so that it would start even with a screwdriver, then just lock your car all the time. That would kinda suck though. Sorry bro, wish I had more info for ya.

yea, it sounds like someone my have changed the ignition switch after it fell apart like mine. I have a new ignition switch/lock assembly that i dont use because i havnt got around to having it rekeyed.
2 keys suck. Actually unlocking the door with a key sucks. Ive been spoiled with my wifes new car that has the 'keyless entry' deal.
A car alarm with a keyless entry feature, as previously mentioned, is a pretty neat way to go. I plan in doing this to mine.
angelo

I hadn't thought of detumblering (it's a perfectly good George W. Bush's Texas word!) the ignition lock. The door keys should operate it then. I'd go that way rather than the way I originally said.
For the rest of you, don't bother looking for it, I sent it to amshaw in an e-mail.

I got a call from the locksmith and he said it is $45 Aus for a new ignition , does that sound about right ??

Still dont know which to go .

Regards
amshaw

That sound pretty good. I don't think anyone's discussed the difference in ignition locks in this thread so far.

The early models didn't have an steering lock ignition. They had a plate that attached to the underneath of the dashboard. There was NO steering lock. This type of ignition key matched the doors. I've got a matching set from Nissan, this is what they supply when you get a 1200 keyset from them.

These ignition locks are highly insecure, as a fellow datsun owner needs to only have an ignition switch (detached from the lock by 2 screws) and a straightblade screwdriver to pull the ignition plug off the back of the existing switch/lock and connect it to his own switch, allowing him to start your car and drive away.

However, in the later (late 1971+) models, the steering lock ignition used a single sided key, as opposed to the doublesided door key.

For $45, If the locksmith can put a new barrel in the steering lock for you, I think that's a great price.

Datsun's aren't very secure cars though. I'd get deadlock doorlocks for the doors, so people can't use packing tape to open them.
I had broken doorlocks on my old car (from a failed breakin attempt using a screwdriver) I used packing tape to unlock my car for about a month. With practice it can be done regularly in under 10 seconds.

Chris.

dattodude,
Thanks for info. Dead locks ? Can you please explain a little more about them ? I know what a dead lock is but Im not sure how to relate them to a door lock for my Datto Ute .

On my VR SS Commodore if you lock the doors with the key button you can put the key in and turn to the left and that brings the "Dead Lock" in. I always try and take the Commodore to the Station for a Fire call out , but my wife usally has it.

I like the idea of the centrel locking but we on a very tight budget , I wont bore everybody with our life story etc.

So Im looking for the cheapest way out. The Ignition key has worn a fair bit and I dought if the locksmith could copy it , so it looks like the new barrel might be the way to go, unless some can think of something else ??

How about a Mr Bean Fix. Pad lock with a latch type bracket on the outside of the door on his mini ????

Regards
Andrew (amshaw)