Key Stuck in the Ignition? Ignition Repair in Orlando, FL

Why a key gets stuck, and the two things to try first

Before you call, check two things. Is the gearshift fully in Park? Most automatics will not release the key until it is, and a shifter that stopped a hair short is the single most common reason a key will not come out. Second, is the steering wheel locked against the column? Turn the wheel gently while turning the key and the lock often lets go. If those do not work, do not force it; a key snapped off in the cylinder is a bigger job than a key that is stuck.

When the key is in Park and the wheel is free and it still will not turn or come out, the cylinder itself is usually the cause. The small brass wafers inside wear down after years of Florida heat, a heavy keychain, and thousands of turns, and they stop lining up with the key. A key that has been copied from a copy can be just far enough off to bind. The technician diagnoses this at the car in a few minutes.

Broken keys, worn cylinders, and replacements keyed to your key

A key that snapped in the ignition comes out with extraction tools that grip the fragment without pushing it deeper, and the cylinder is checked for damage before a new key is cut. A worn cylinder is often repaired in place: new wafers, a clean and lubricate, and it turns like it did when the car was new. When the cylinder is too far gone, the technician installs a replacement and keys it to the key you already have, so one key still opens the doors and starts the car. Nobody wants two keys for one car.

Chip keys and push-to-start cars are handled with the same care. Repairing or replacing a cylinder does not disturb the transponder programming, and if a new key is cut along the way it is programmed at the car.

What we repair and what we refer out

Ignition repair from a locksmith covers the lock cylinder and the key: sticking, binding, broken keys, worn wafers, cylinders that spin freely. The ignition switch behind the cylinder, the electrical part that actually sends power to the starter, is a mechanic's job, and so is a failed steering column lock or a push-button start module that will not wake the car. If the technician finds one of those, you hear it straight, you are not charged for a repair we did not do, and you get pointed toward the right shop rather than sold a cylinder you did not need.

• Bring the key that is stuck plus any spare, so we can compare the cuts
• Photo ID and registration or insurance card in your name
• Tell the dispatcher if the key is snapped or simply will not turn