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What to Try If the Key Is Stuck In Your Car's Ignition

When it comes to automotive security, you can usually trust the locks, keys and security features that came with your vehicle to be reliable and durable. These have been especially designed to provide its users with the best possible protection, but nothing is ever immune to damage. Even simple lock and key issues may cause a bit of trouble, and that is why automotive locksmiths such as East Haven CT Locksmith are here to provide you with trusted help with all security-related matters.

A common issue automotive locksmiths in East Haven, CT attend to is assisting car owners with keys stuck in the ignition. It is something that can happen to anyone, at any given time, and some car owners may feel at loss of what to do when they encounter themselves in this predicament.

Even if you have never been in this situation, you could can probably imagine the frustration felt by those who have. Simply put, a key stuck in the ignition will make your vehicle inoperable. If your key gets stuck when the car is turned on, you won’t be able to turn it off or drive away; if it happens when the car is turned off, you may be stranded until the issue has been resolved. In either stuck key situation, locally-based locksmiths will be able to get to you, and help you out, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We hope to ease the stress you may experience by providing you with all the information that you need to know about handling a key that is stuck in the ignition. Consider this your step-by-step guide to getting through this frustrating problem, no matter when you find yourself in this situation. Knowing in advance what to do, and what to expect, will prepare you in case you ever find yourself in a car with a jammed key.

So, let’s take a look at what you should do in this sticky situation.

Before you contact a locksmith, see if you can solve the issue yourself. Sometimes a stuck key can be released through some basic troubleshooting, other times key extractions and ignition cylinder replacements may be called for.

Here are some of the different steps to take prior to requesting automotive lock and key assistance.

Basic checks

There are situations where your key may get stuck while the car is turned on, or with the car turned off. So here is what to do in each individual situation:

If your car is turned on, you should:

  • Check the gears. If the car is in drive instead of park, it will not let you remove the key or turn the vehicle off.
  • Check the dashboard to see if it matches your gear lever’s transmission. Shift it back and forth to the correct one if needed, and see if you can extract they key then.
  • After these checks, try to bring the car back to park to see if the issue persists.

If your car is turned off, you should:

  • Check the key position. Aged cylinders can mean that your key becomes stuck.
  • Move the steering wheel back and forth while gently trying to remove key from lock position.
  • Check for a dead battery. A sure sign you may have a dead battery is that the dashboard has lit up. Dead batteries will lock the keys into the ignition as the car won’t be able to correctly identify the chip being inserted.
  • If you have some lube, try loosening the key with it and see if you can remove it then.

If none of these troubleshooting tips have helped, then it is definitely time to contact a locksmith.

While waiting for assistance

So you contacted a East Haven, CT, professional and told them the issues you are faced with. You can expect the assistance from a locally-based automotive locksmith to be quick and easily accessible. They will always try to get to customers as soon they possibly can, but while you are waiting we recommend that you do the following:

  • Make sure key is kept in lock position to avoid battery drainage
  • Use a spare key to manually lock the vehicle if required

Hiring a licensed and insured locksmith is always the best resort for lock and key issues, as it will save you time and money. Especially when it comes to handling keys stuck in the ignition, automotive locksmiths will promptly tend to all issues and will save you the hassle of getting your car towed into an expensive mechanical garage.

What to expect from your automotive locksmith

When the locksmith arrives, they will fully inspect the issue at hand. An automotive locksmith will go through all the common troubleshooting techniques, paying attention to batteries, dashboards, or any signs of damage. This will enable them to provide you with a full diagnosis of the problem.

Sometimes all they will have to do is extract your key for you. Other times, they may need to replace a worn out or damaged ignition cylinder, or provide a fix for a faulty component. Regardless, a reliable locksmith service provider in East Haven, CT, will have all the tools and components on hand to readily perform any required fixes.

Before they begin the repairs though, you can request them to explain exactly what they will do and a full price quote to go along with their services. Reputable locksmith businesses will provide consultations and price quotes at no cost to their customers.

Remember, locksmiths are on-call to handle urgent matters 24/7, so you should be able to get assistance from them any time of the day. In order to be fully prepared for anything that comes your way, keep the contact details of your trusted locksmith service provider in an easy to access place so that you can get help the moment you experience an issue.