What To Do When Car Key Breaks In The Ignition
Ignition is where you put your car key to start your vehicle. If you are one of those unlucky people whose key broke off in the ignition, it is a big problem. Apart from not being able to start your car, a broken key in the ignition will cause you a lot of unnecessary fatigue and worry. It's tough to extract the broken key parts from the ignition, especially if you don't know the correct technique and have the proper tools. Do not try to take the key out without knowing the right way. This article will tell you the right way of removing broken keys out of the ignition without damaging the ignition.
RISK OF DAMAGING THE IGNITION
A broken key inside the ignition does not necessarily mean that your ignition is also damaged. However, it can undoubtedly get damaged if you remove the key without knowing the proper technique. PitStopArabia recommends that you call a vehicle recovery service like PitStopArabia to remove the key instead of you trying to remove it and eventually breaking your ignition. A broken ignition will only add up to your worries and finances as well. So, it is better to let an expert handle the situation who will remove the key without causing further damage.
However, if you insist on removing the broken key yourself, there are certain ways you can do it without damaging the ignition. You need to understand that ignition is a fragile component and can get damaged easily. One thing which you shouldn't do to extract the broken key is to use super glue. Don’t try to use force to put tools inside the ignition key area as it will damage it. If you feel that the tool does not fit properly, then don’t force it. Instead, find something else which is smaller in size and easily goes inside the ignition area. If you use the same method or tool many times, you will probably damage the ignition. If it's not working, then don’t force it to work. Try something else.
WHICH TOOLS TO USE?
● TWEEZERS
The first thing which comes to our mind when a key breaks off is a tweezer. Before using a tweezer, you need to check how far the key is broken off in the ignition. The size of most of the tweezers is not suitable for this job. They will only make things worse by pushing the broken key further inside the ignition. You need to take into consideration the width of the tweezer. It should be able to open wide enough in the ignition cylinder to extract the broken part of the key. We recommend that you only use tweezers when the broken key is sticking out of the ignition cylinder. If the key is too deep, tweezers will only push it further down, making things worse.
● HACKSAW BLADE
Suppose you don't want to spend extra money on purchasing a key extractor. There is an alternative for you in the form of a mini hacksaw blade. The smaller the metal, the better it is as it can be inserted inside the ignition cylinder. If the blade's saw edges are angled, insert the blade in the ignition such that the saw edges are facing towards you. This technique will ensure that the blade goes in smoothly.
● PAPER CLIP
Another way of extracting a broken key from the ignition is to use a paperclip. The application of a paper clip is the same as that of a hacksaw blade. Bend the paper clip as straight as an arrow and insert it inside the ignition cylinder. Try pulling the broken key by adjusting the paper clip until it grabs onto it.
● KEY EXTRACTOR
The most professional method of extracting a broken key out of a lock is using a key extractor. As the name suggests, this tool is made for this purpose only, i.e. removing broken parts of the key from locks. Moreover, if you decide to call a locksmith, he will also use the same tool to extract the broken key. In order to get the desired result, place the hook of the extractor on the key and pull the key out.
● NEEDLE-NOSE PLIER
A plier comes in handy when a portion of the broken key is hanging out of the ignition. The method is to grab onto that hanging part of the key by using pliers and pulling it outwards. When grabbing the key, you should be extra careful as doing it incorrectly will push the key further downwards.
Conclusion
At PitStopArabia, our job is to give you the best advice. In case of a broken key in the ignition, we recommend hiring the services of a professional. Although you will have to pay for the service, you can expect a quick and hassle-free job. If you do it yourself, you may cause further damage which will cost more to repair. You can contact us for further help regarding removing a broken key from the ignition. If you have any questions, please check out FAQs page. If your question is not answered, you can reach out to us. Thank You.