When car keys don’t turn inside your vehicle’s ignition slot, you might be confused as to what to do. The best thing to do in this situation is to contact an expert licensed automotive lock repair technician, like those at Top Locksmith. However, if you’re desperate to get back driving on the road, here’s a list of some strategies that you can tackle that can get you driving again in no time at all.
Steering Wheel
Try turning the steering wheel left and right and pay attention to what side is blocked. Place the steering wheel in the area it does turn to, and hold it right there. Turn the key in the accessory position while holding the steering wheel turned. Then try rocking the steering wheel as you turn the key, and if this doesn’t work, rock the steering wheel as you jiggle the key inside the ignition.
Lock Lubrication
Try lubricating the keyway of the lock ignition, ideally with a graphite or silicon based lubricant. Spray the lubricant in the keyway, wipe off any excess spray, insert and turn the key, and try jiggling it. Try this a few times.
Key Tapping
Sometimes springs can get caught in the lock, and you may be able to fix this by rapping it out of place. Use any device that can cause a vibration to the key and ignition cylinder. Put the key in the ignition, use a tool like a hammer or something that vibrates on the key as you turn it. If this doesn’t work, try appling the tapping/vibrating object directly on the ignition cylinder.
Key Repairs
It might be an issue with a key. Verify this by trying a spare car key and see if it works. If it does, look at the key biting on the original key to see if any of it is worn down, or if the key is bent or twisted. Contact a licensed locksmith to repair the key, or make you a brand new working one from code.
Ignition Cylinder Replacement
If the issue isn’t with your key, it may (but hopefully not) be with the ignition cylinder itself. You don’t need to replace the entire ignition cylinder, all you will have to do is have it rekeyed. This operation can be simply carried out by a high quality professional automotive locksmith, like those on the team at Top Locksmith.