Ignition Cylinder Problems

You may or may not be familiar with a small device that is a part of your vehicle known as an ignition cylinder. These cylinders or switches, as they may sometimes be called, are small, cylindrically shaped pieces of hardware that play a role in helping your vehicle turn on, as well as holding your car key in place. An ignition cylinder is comprised of a small slit in the center of the top of the cylinder, with the slit visible near the right side of your car’s steering wheel. This is where you enter your key and twist in order to start your car. The rest of the cylinder is usually hidden within the steering wheel and for good reason. Ignition cylinders were made specifically to be difficult to reach or tamper with. This helps against theft and makes it more difficult for a car to be hotwired and stolen.

Common Issues
Ignition cylinders are used every time you turn on or turn off your vehicle. The repetitive motion of inserting and extracting your car key from the ignition cylinders center slit can cause normal wear and tear overtime. If your ignition cylinder is faulty, there are several indicators that will clue you in and may signal that your cylinder needs to be replaced or repaired.

Issue #1 – Your Car Will Not Start
Since ignition cylinders help hold your key in place and signal to the car that the proper key is inserted, it is important that the cylinder remain stable. If for some reason your vehicle’s ignition cylinder is out of place, it can make it so that even with the proper key, your car cannot hold the key in place and start the car. Ignition cylinders are quite resilient, but because they are typically used every day, if not multiple times a day, they can succumb to wear and tear. Your vehicle may not be starting because the cylinder has been knocked loose or is no longer in the proper position to be able to hold the key in place.

Issue #2 – Your Car Electrical Panels Do Not Respond
This second indicator can also mean that your ignition cylinder is worn or not responding as it should. Similar to the scenario in which your car will not start at all, you may not get a response from the car’s electrical panel when you twist your key once in the cylinder. This can indicate your cylinder is not in the right position and may need to be replaced. Typically, with just a turn of a key in a car’s ignition cylinder, you should notice the inner electrical panels and lights turn on in the car. Sometimes, this may signal an issue with your car battery, but it may also mean your ignition cylinder is to blame.

Issue #3 – You are Unable to Insert of Fit Your Key into the Cylinder
Another possibility that can signal a problem with your cylinder is not being able to insert the key into the slot. This can happen for a few different reasons. It is possible that something may have gotten stuck inside of your ignition cylinder and it blocking the slot, making it so your key cannot fit. It is also possible that something within the cylinder has become damaged or bent and is causing a blockage.

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