Broken Ignition Key Servicing

A broken ignition key is a problem that Brothers Locksmith can solve. Many times, the key is broken, with some of the key blades stuck in the ignition lock or door lock, and the remainder in your hand. The best thing to do in this situation is to call a locksmith for help. We carry broken key removal tools, and the equipment to make a new replacement key for most makes and models of cars.

Our solution for a broken ignition key for an automobile is for a qualified automotive locksmith to first quote the complete price for the entire repair up front. Once hires, then get to the stranded vehicle’s location. Upon arrival and introduction, begin locating the broken key parts. Most times, a driver will have the head of the key still on the keyring, and the remainder will be in the ignition lock cylinder, in the door lock, on the ground or in the car, or completely missing. If the remainder of the broken key is completely missing, and we have checked all the vehicle locks to make sure it’s not in one of them, we begin the procedure to originate a new key as if all are lost.

Most times the broken key remainder is in the ignition lock cylinder or door lock cylinder or trunk lock cylinder and will have to be removed. the broken key piece must be removed before a new key can be used because it is blocking the way for a new key to be inserted fully into the lock so the lock can’t be turned. The methods for removing the broken key piece include small wire base locksmith key removal tools, lock pick based key removal tools, tweezer style removal tools and other tools that are specifically designed to remove broke keys from lock cylinders. Screw drivers and pliers and pocket knives are usually not recommended because they will damage the vehicle lock if not used extremely carefully, rendering the lock useless, and the vehicle will cost more to repair to make it work correctly again. It takes dexterity, mechanical aptitude, finesse and patience to operate the locksmith key removal tools successfully and get the broken key out of the lock cylinder it is stuck in.

Once the broken key piece is out, the key can be be reproduced by reading the cuts of the key by sight, by duplicating onto another key, by having the manufacturer’s key code, or by impressioning the lock or disassembly and decoding. It is normal to make a working key first, to test the key decoding, and to test the locks and make sure there wasn’t something wrong with one of them to cause the broken key issue. If the vehicle is not equipped with a transponder immobilizer system and the key works in the locks properly, this completes the job.

Transponder keys have a transponder immobilizer “chip” that is programmed to the car. when replacing a broken automobile key it has to be replaced as well. To replace the chip style key, a completely new key will have to be made and programmed to your vehicle so it will start and run.