Car key stuck in your ignition? While it may be rare, it happens more often than you might think. At least a few times a month, our locksmiths at Quickly Locksmith, LLC of Atlanta, Georgia receive phone calls from frantic customers who have gotten their car keys stuck in their ignition locks. However, not all of these situations may require a professional to remedy. Read on to learn what you should do if you’ve found yourself in this situation, as well as some preventative tips to help you avoid a reoccurrence in the future.
If at any time you notice that your key is sticking in your lock here and there, heed that as a warning and pay attention. That’s a sign that something is amiss. Inspect your key and the lock for any visible damage and replace the offending part, if needed. Usually, however, there isn’t a sign that your car key is going to get stuck in your ignition lock until it happens. It’s part of what makes it such a frustrating situation to deal with. Our locksmiths have got your back, however.
What You Shouldn’t Do
Before we discuss the best steps to take when your key is stuck in your ignition, let’s first discuss what you shouldn’t do. It’s best to read this section first so that you don’t inadvertently make a mistake that costs you more in the long run.
- Don’t be too rough! Car keys are more delicate than most people think, and using too much force might cause the key to break off in the ignition cylinder. There’s also the possibility of causing additional damage to the internal mechanism of the lock if you try to use too much force to yank or jimmy your key out.
- Don’t panic. As stated above, panicking will only make the situation worse. Even if the conditions are less than ideal, such as if you’re stuck in a parking lot in the middle of the night, panicking will just cause you to lose your rationality.
- Don’t use pliers unless you know what you’re doing. Some people who are stuck in their driveway with their key in their ignition cylinder resort to raiding their toolbox to get the key free. Unless you have extensive experience with this sort of thing, it’s advised to avoid using pliers and other tools to try to free your key. This could cause additional damage to the ignition lock cylinder or the key itself. It’s best to leave this job to the professionals.
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