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Having your key get stuck in the ignition of your vehicle is frustrating. It can cause a great deal of stress, especially if you have tried everything to get it out. But you might be wondering – what can I do to try to get it out? Some people have a very basic idea of one or two steps, but we get this question quite often so we want to try to save you from having to contact someone for help. Of course, a locksmith specializing in automotive services should be able to help you without a problem no matter where you live.
First things first – don’t force the key out. If it is stuck and you try to rip it out, all you are going to do is cause further damage, whether that’s to the key or the ignition cylinder. It is simply not worth it. Hopefully, the steps provided will offer the guidance you need, so you have a better idea of what to do. We want you to do things like check the key itself, and its position. Check out further details below! We are confident that they just might help you out of your bind.
First things first. Do you have the key turned in the right spot? We know this might sound like a given but if you are frantic because the key is stuck, or you are driving a car you don’t normally drive, it could just be that the key is not in the right position. Or you might even have an ignition cylinder suffering from wear and tear, so the key has turned past the position it is supposed to be in. Why not check?
Is the key damaged?
Had you started to notice over time that something is wrong with the key? For example, it doesn’t smoothly insert into a lock or remove smoothly? Do you tend to carry a lot of items on your key ring that might have been wearing down the ignition cylinder? Or do you use the key incorrectly, for example, to open things like boxes and bottles? A locksmith can come out to do an inspection for you.
This certainly happens, and often time, it is the culprit when it comes to the key being stuck. If you have a locked steering wheel, the solution can actually be quite simple as long as it’s not caused by something like a computer problem or another issue with the vehicle. Gently turn the steering wheel to one side. Now gently turn it to the other side. Do this a couple of times and while you are doing so, pull on the key but do it with caution. Don’t be forceful. This might actually resolve your issue!
You should not be able to remove your key if the ignition is off completely. It is worth double checking prior to calling in an expert for help.
The ignition cylinder is sometimes the culprit when you have a hard time removing your key. It could be that damage over time caused the key to get stuck and then break off inside, which might leave you needing broken key extraction. In some cases, an ignition cylinder change is what you are going to need. This is something that a locksmith specializes in auto services can determine. But one thing you can do is try to make sure there isn’t any dirt or blockage within the ignition cylinder. Something you can do is use air (pressurized) to try to blow any dirt or debris out of the way. Wd-40 can be another option to try. Give it a whirl and if the key ends up coming out with ease, then you can tell that it just needed to be cleaned out. Just like you maintain your vehicle through washing and waxing and oil changes, you should also clean out the interior so build up does not occur. Just think about how much hair, dust and so on accumulates over time in your home if you don’t vacuum. It’s the same idea with your vehicle. And if you eat in your car, you can expect even more build up to occur.
Yes, you can always call an auto locksmith to deal with your automotive lock and security concerns. But what if the problem is very easily – what if you merely have a dead battery? If you have tried the steps we previously mentioned and they did not work but you have not ruled out a dead battery, certainly do so. This would cause potential issues, as your anti-theft system won’t be working effectively. This would cause your car to not recognize the key. Sure, it’s a good thing in the sense of security. But it’s frustrating for you! The good news is, a dead battery is not difficult to deal with.
If you have tried all these things and nothing has been effective, then we recommend turning to a licensed and insured automotive locksmith to help you. You should be able to find a mobile expert offering 24/7 service so you won’t be stuck or stranded on the side of the road. We are pleased to offer everything customers need in one place, but we understand you might not be in our service area. A quick online search should reveal options for you! We know having your key get stuck in the ignition of your vehicle is frustrating. It can cause a great deal of stress, especially if you have tried everything to get it out – but don’t panic when you have helped just a phone call away!
