Ignition Repair
A key that sticks, jams or refuses to turn usually points to a worn key, a worn ignition cylinder, or both. We find out which at the car and, in most cases, fix it there.
Mon–Sat 8 AM–8 PMInsured15 years of experience
Worn key, worn cylinder, or something else?
A worn key
Years on a busy key ring round off the cuts until they stop matching the parts inside the cylinder. Sometimes a fresh key, cut to the right depths, is the whole fix.
Got a second key that turns smoothly? That’s a strong clue the first key is the problem, so bring both out when we arrive.
A worn ignition cylinder
The small parts inside the cylinder wear out and stick as well. Older trucks and high-mileage cars see it most, since one key has turned one switch thousands of times. We repair the cylinder or replace it, and make sure your keys work with whatever goes back in.
Sometimes it’s neither
Pressure from the steering lock can hold a key tight, so rock the steering wheel a little as you try again. A shifter that isn’t fully in park can block it as well.
And if the key goes round and the engine stays silent, the chip in the key might not be getting read; see key fobs and remotes.
From the first call to a smooth key
Tell us what it does
Sticks, won’t turn, won’t come out, or turns without starting: each one points to a different cause.
Key and cylinder get tested
Right there at the car, we figure out if the key, the cylinder or something else is at fault.
Repair or replace
We repair the cylinder when that’s possible, or replace it, with keys that fit.
Check everything
The start, the steering lock and the door keys all get tested before we go.
Signs the ignition needs a look
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The key sticks
It drags going in or coming out, and it’s getting worse.
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It needs a wiggle
It only turns after some jiggling, a push or a second try.
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The key won’t turn
It slides in all the way, but the switch stays put.
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The key won’t come out
The engine is off, yet the key stays stuck in the switch.
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The steering wheel stays locked
The wheel won’t free up, even with gentle turning while you try the key.
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It turns, but nothing happens
The key goes all the way round and the engine won’t crank. That can be the chip, the switch, or a fault for a mechanic, and we’ll tell you which.
Ignition jammed right now?
Don’t force it or pull hard. Call with the make, model and year, and we’ll head your way.
Ignition questions
Should I spray lubricant into my ignition?
Skip household oil and grease: they hold on to grit and leave the sticking worse than before. A little proper lock lubricant may help for a while, but a key that keeps sticking needs someone to look at the cause.
Do I need new keys after the ignition is replaced?
Sometimes. Depending on the vehicle, a new cylinder may be keyed to the key you already carry, or it arrives with fresh keys. We explain the choice before any work starts.
My car has push-button start. Can the ignition still fail?
There’s no key cylinder to wear out, so when a push-button car won’t start, the cause is usually the fob or the start system. We check the fob first and tell you if the fault lies somewhere else.
Is it OK to keep driving with a sticky ignition?
It works until the day it doesn’t, and then you’re stranded wherever you parked. Having it checked early is far easier than dealing with a jammed key in a store lot.
Can you remove a key that broke off in the ignition?
Yes. Extraction tools draw the broken piece out, and in most cases we cut you a working key before we leave. More on broken key removal.
More automotive locksmith services
Ignition giving you trouble? We’ll meet you at the car.
Tell us what the key is doing and we’ll talk through the likely fix, and the price, before we set out whenever possible.