Heavy Keys?

[FuriousMojo]

I'm curious as to what you guys think about having a lot of keys on your key chain. The same key chain that goes into the ignition of your car. I've been told in the past by more than one person that having a lot of keys can cause problems. I'm not really sure how or why but I'm curious as to what you guys think. Are they talking about the ignition? Perhaps the extra weight will cause it to fail or something in the long run?

Tell me my friends have no clue what they're talking about or tell me that I'm f'ing my car up by having a lot of keys (8 and some are somewhat heavy).

 

[122 Vega]

One time in my VR6 Corrado, I was accelerating through a right hand sweeper at a relatively high rate of speed and my keys swung up and the alarm remote was on a long chain and it got stuck in between the wheel and the column, and as I turned in, the ign key turned off and locked the steering mid apex. PUCKER FACTOR TEN! Luckily there was a gardening center exactly on my apex around the corner so I just went in the driveway at about 50 MPH and grabbed the brakes. Could have been nasty. Now I just have my car key and remote on a short keychain.

Britt

 

[AbbyVonNormal]

I was told that a heavy key chain is not good for the starter. Over time (years of course) too much weight on the ignition wears it out and puts some strain on the innards.

Use your pointer finger and hang your keys on it. Feel how heavy it weighs in on your finger. If it feels heavy and its hard to keep your finger straight, might be too heavy.
Picture all that weight on the inside of your ignition over the years.....cant be all that good.

 

[BlackMSP]

i dont even use a keychain. I just have the key. so I can throw it in my pocket.

 

[YuYuRena]

key plus the wireless remote that's it for me

 

[ebsalem]

It's just physics.

lock sliders and tumbler are made from fairly thin metal. keys in the ingnition are basically hanging out of this assembly. And anything hanging off the ignition key is just swinging around causing undo wear on the lock assembly.

 

[jonnydoe48]

key + remote+ housekey + gym card (one of those little cards that goes on your keychain)

 

[MazdaDryvr]

Key and remote ....that is all , thank you

 

[derrick1623]

well, i am a maintenance guy, so i carry a SHITLOAD of keys, and understand how key cylinders work, they don't like weight.

this being said, into my ignition goes a single mazda key, attached to alarm remote, that's IT!

blackmsp, don't lose that key while your just "tossing it", i am on my spare key as a result of that.

 

[II-Savy]

I agree with everyone cause I'm new but check this out.

The set of keys would have to be fairly large with more than just a normal set. Normal set I would say is - Two cars, one house and a couple of work keys. Now if your a janitor for a college and your keys are on a ski lift cable chain well then..... Do what these guys do and just carry the key and remote.

 

[Newf]

Well, it would have to be a major set of keys to effect it. 5 or 6 ain't going to do anything, 10 for that matter. You think the engineers these days are smart enough to realize that most people have more then one key.

Personally, I'm an IT person at a university, I have probably 40 keys easy. But I use one of those outfit thingie's that allow you to detach the car keys from the main (heavey) ring of keys with ease. That's what I do.

 

[pluto316]

So I shouldn't be using this brick at the end of my keychain? s***.

 

[uclap5]

my keys are heavy. 6 keys +flashlight + leatherman.

but ill be damned if i ever leave my leatherman at home. that thing is so ******* useful.

 

[AbbyVonNormal]

this little gadget works wonders!
/members/AbbyVonNormal/k3012gcgs.jpg

 

[chillinmcmillan]

Car key, remote, housekey, mailkey. Keep it simple.

 

[MazdaDryvr]

I also have the detachable thingy. I carry many keys for home and business and the weight aspect is not as big an issue as the swinging keys are. I take care not to scuff my interior.

 

[Tex]

Car key, remote, and house key. That's it. The mailbox key I keep in the center compartment below the radio.

A friend of mine had about 6 or 8 keys on his keyring, and his Jeep Grand Cherokee suddenly began refusing to start at times. They could never duplicate it at the garage, even though he had it towed there numerous times when it refused to start. They would let it down off the tow truck, get in it, and it would start right up. Well, you guessed it, after several tows, it finally refused to start for the mechanic, and he traced it to the worn out ignition switch. The steering column below the switch had a wide arc with all the paint rubbed off it, too, you would think that would have given them a clue.

So, yeah, more than a few keys hanging from the ignition switch = prematurely worn out switch.

 

[MazdaDryvr]

Yo Tex, that MSP looks F'n awesome in that pic. That should be a Mazda promo pic its so hot.

a la Homer S - Marge, I want to be alone with the MSP now

 

[Tex]

Thanks Dryvr. I took it on the way home from Austin, shortly after picking it up.