I have a 1998 Prelude. For the past couple years sometimes my key wouldn't immediately turn the ignition lock (as if it were stuck) and I'd have to fiddle with the steering wheel or try several times to get the key to turn so I could start the car.

Last weekend this same thing occurred, but even after 30 minutes of fiddling with the key/steering wheel (the wheel is not locked) I couldn't get the key to turn.

I called a few locksmiths and one told me that there was a recall (I think it's recall #10302) that involves the ignition switch being replaced. The lock smith and also Honda of Bellevue (WA) thought that getting this recall takenc are of might incidentally fix my problem, so I had the car towed to Honda of Seattle (closer to where the car was).

Honda of Seattle is now telling me that because the car won't start (the key won't turn), they want to replace the entire "ignition assembly" (not sure what that term means) before fixing the recall issue. They want to charge me $850 for this.

What would you guys do in this situation?

I have a spare key that I haven't tried yet. I'm thinking it's possible that the key is just worn down and maybe I could start the car with my spare.

If that doesn't work, I planned to ask Honda of Seattle to remove the ignition lock (they'd have to do that anyway right?) and then I could take it to a locksmith to see if they could fix it, then I'd bring it back and then hopefully Honda of Seattle would just go ahead with the recall repair for free and I wouldn't have to get the whole ignition assembly replaced.

I have a question: the "ignition switch" that needs to be replaced anyway is different from the ignition lock, and if they just replaced the ignition switch, the lock wouldn't be replaced too right? So are they being reasonable in suggesting that I pay $850 instead of trying to get them to do the recall repair and seeing if that fixes the problem?

Thanks,
Elliot