11/26/2021 “The best laid plans often go awry” at least that’s what the quote
from Robert Burns says. This is especially true when it comes to stuck ignition key problems!
We innocently hop into our cars with plans set in our minds as to where
we are about to go. It might be the grocery store or to dinner. We may
be leaving for work or to take the kids to school. Our minds are
thinking of our plans and our destination; not having to deal with a
stuck key. Nothing is wrong until the ignition key is turned and
then…nothing! The key won’t turn and it won’t come back out. Sometimes
the ignition works but the key is still stuck. Other times, the key goes
in and comes out but the car won’t start. Before you panic; there are
some simple and free ways to often fix the problem. Read on and see.
Now, you’re stuck!
Your
first thought might be to take the car to some repair place. But how
can you; it won’t run! You might be thinking of locking the car up and
calling someone for help. How can you do that when the ignition/door key
is stuck and won’t come back out? You can’t even leave the car alone
without abandoning your key and the vehicle, as the two are inseparable
now. It’s a true dilemma and it is usually compounded by stress and
emotion. You panic; then feel fear, and maybe even anger. What did you
do wrong? How much is all this going to cost? Are you in danger now? Is
your schedule ruined for the day? Who can you call? A million thoughts
go through your head, seemingly all at once.
Do this first
Our Augusta Locksmith crew
gets stuck ignition key calls from time to time. Of course you are
always welcome to call us but there are simple and free “tricks” that
you can do that can often solve the problem with no need for any kind of
service call. Start by calming yourself. This works whether you are
here in Augusta, GA or anywhere else in the world. Just take a few deep
breaths and try and clear your mind of any worries, anger or fear. You
are not dying; just inconvenienced! Becoming more relaxed allows you to
think methodically and prevents you from calling the first repairman you
find on your phone.
Parking brake
Next,
apply your parking brake. You will be testing a few mechanisms on your
car and the last thing you want is for it to roll forward or backward.
Every year people are needlessly injured and even killed when the car
hits them because it rolled onto them because the brake was not set;
don’t be one of those.
Now, loosen the key if you can!
Apply
some pressure and see if you can move the ignition key back and forth a
little. Your goal is not to force the key; only to loosen it. Try not
to break it; you’ll have another problem, then. Just wiggle the key back
and forth and see if this movement is enough to loosen it up enough to
remove it. Next, you’ll want to check your gear settings. PARK is the
only choice you have. Not DRIVE, not NEUTRAL or anything in between;
just PARK! There is a built-in mechanism that acts as a safety feature
that will NOT let you start your car unless you are in the correct gear.
Next…
Are
you ready to give up and call AAA? Don’t! If the above actions didn’t
free your ignition key there are still some options open to you. Try
moving your steering wheel back and forth. Is it seemingly stuck in
place? Just add some more pressure until you get it to move back and
forth. It’s a little known fact but sometimes steering wheels lock up if
leaned upon or twisted with extra force. A locked steering wheel will
also lock up your ignition and prevent you from turning or even removing
your ignition key.
Drained battery?
A
low battery can also affect your ignition. Your transponder key sends a
signal to your car’s on board computer telling it that it’s okay to
start the engine. If the battery is low, the signal can be too weak to
transmit correctly and your ignition system won’t work right. Test your
battery by seeing if the headlights work. You can also try your
dashboard lights, radio, windshield wipers, car seats and power windows.
Wrong key used
Another
little known reason for not being able to release your ignition key is
that it’s the wrong one! Yes, that really happens! If you live and work
around others that also have transponder keys, it’s easy to grab the
wrong one and mistake it for yours. Just because the key goes in,
doesn’t mean that it will work or even come back out; often, they don’t!
No need to panic; just spray your key loose. Use some electrical
contact cleaner; it comes in spray form. Give your stuck key a spritz of
it and then follow up with a light spray of lock lubricant (silicon
variety). The combination effect of these two sprays results in lock
cleaning and lubrication. Usually it’s enough to get your key out.
Resist the urge to force it
This
one is harder than it seems; resist the urge to just force your key
out. It will break before you can force it out of the ignition. Now,
your problems are multiplied as you still can’t drive your car but you
also have to deal with key extraction and new transponder key
duplication and programming!
Further details at:
Car key stuck in ignition; what to do!
http://www.augustalocksmith.net/ Augusta Locksmith is happy to offer handy services to those in the Augusta, GA area. Lock and security options which are offered by our licensed crew are sure to make your property safer than ever before. We make sure that you have options as it relates to all of you…