Ignition Cylinder Problems

You may find that your car offers you a lot of convenience. Cars practically drive themselves. They alert you to when you are about to cross a line or hit an object. They enable you to drive hands free and will park themselves. With so many modern conveniences, you may not be able to imagine that anything could go wrong. Manufacturers are aware of just how much time people spend in their cars. If it isn’t going to and from work, it’s taking kids to school and picking them up. This is why it is practical for car manufacturers to add these different features, to make it more convenient for motorists. Despite all of the advances in technology, vehicles are still prone to experiencing problems from time to time. You probably expect to receive some mechanical problems from time to time but not your key getting stuck or not going into the ignition. If you find yourself in this situation the worst thing you can do is yank the key out of the ignition. If you don’t want the expense of having a new ignition switch installed, it is advisable to simply give a locksmith a call. A locksmith can help you avoid having to spend any additional money on an ignition switch.

If your key is bent, this could be the cause of your trouble. We know that this may sound to simply to be the real reason but trust us; it happens more often than you think. This isn’t a problem that is visible to the average person but you can be sure that a locksmith will be able to figure this out. They work with keys so they are familiar to what they should look like and how they should fit into the ignition. If the key is cut improperly it will make it hard to fit the key into the ignition. It isn’t uncommon for someone to receive a key that was incorrectly cut. This happens more times than we would like to admit.

If you want to try to figure out why you’re experiencing a problem, here are some things you can do prior to contacting a locksmith.

If the car is turned on:

1. Gently wiggle the key. Handling the key too roughly might result in the key breaking off in the ignition.
2. Your car needs to be in the ‘parked’ position. If it is not then you will not be able to remove the key.
3. Look at your dashboard to see if the gear is in the right position. If you notice that it is still in the drive position, put it in park so that you can get the key out. If you are unable to shift the gear, you may have a mechanical issue that needs to be addressed.

If your car is turned off:

1. Make sure you don’t have a dead battery. If the car battery is dead it will not enable you to use your car. It locks the ignition and the locks. One of the first things that a locksmith will do when they are trying to remedy the problem is check the battery.
2. How you position the key is important. If your key is not in the right position it will be difficult to remove it from the ignition. If your car is an older model, the cylinder might be prone to sticking. This makes it more difficult to remove the key.
3. Again, you can gently wiggle the key to get it out of the ignition. Forcing it out is the worst thing you can do.

We would suggest that you attempt to get the key out of the ignition by using the above-mentioned suggestions. These are the things that have worked in the past that is why we have written them down for your benefit. Now if you have had this same problem before and they didn’t work, it is unlikely that they will work this time. If you simply react to quickly to your key being stuck in the ignition, it might cost you in the end. We are trying to help you prevent costly repairs due to the damage you might cause to your car’s ignition. Save yourself any further frustration by adhering to the suggestions above. Keep calm and revert back to what you have read here. It is sure to prove more useful than your simply reacting to the situation you find yourself in by snatching the key out. A locksmith will know how to effectively and safely remove the key from the ignition so that you are not left with an even worse problem than you already have.

When you are determined to get the key out yourself, just keep in mind the damage you can cause to the ignition if you do not properly remove the key. We don’t want you to have to find out the hard way why it is not a good idea to snatch your car key out of the ignition. If you follow the suggestions above, you should be set and ready to get on your way. If you are not getting the results that you hope for, it might be necessary to contact an auto mechanic. We try to help you avoid having to call a mechanic by assisting you in safely removing your key from the ignition.