Resolving Stuck Ignition Key Problems

Imagine this scenario if you will. You are running late for your anniversary dinner with your wife. You stop to pick her up some roses on the way home. When you go to get out of the car you start having a problem getting the key out of your ignition. Instinctively you tug and pull at the key with your fingers. When it does not come out, you then realize you have a much bigger problem on your hands. You wonder what you can do to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. My advice is to call your wife and explain the situation and then try the following steps.

Stuck Ignition Key Causes

Here are some of the most common reasons that a key will get stuck in your car’s ignition.

• Warped key

  What’s the number one reason why keys get stuck in automobile ignitions? If you guessed because a key is warped or bent you are right. The solution here is to never use a bent or warped key in the first place. Opt to grab your spare key instead.

• Worn key

  Most of the time, a worn auto key will cause your key to be able to be removed too easily from your ignition. But the opposite can and does happen from time to time. It happens when your key is so worn one or more of its teeth become slightly misaligned. If you noticed you had to push your key hard to get it in your ignition, this may be the cause of your stuck ignition key.

• Defective ignition Cylinder lock

  There is also a chance your car key may not be the problem at all. If you have a defective ignition lock cylinder it can hold your key inside it like it’s in a vice grip. There is not much you can do to prevent this.

• Operator error

  Have you ever been in a situation where a solution to a problem is so simple you overlook it? That may be exactly the case here. There are some simple steps involved that you can miss when turning off your car that will not allow your key to be released from the ignition.

How to Resolve a Stuck Ignition Key Issue

Here are some things you can try if you find it difficult to remove your key from your ignition.

1. What Not To Do!

The best place to start when it comes to helping you resolve a stuck ignition key issue is to caution you what not to do to resolve this problem.

• Never tug with excessive force on the exposed part of the key. This could damage the ignition cylinder or ruin the key itself. If it’s a transponder key it will cost you some money to replace it.
• Never stick a screwdriver or any other tool into the ignition alongside the stuck key. There is not enough room to do this. Once again, you risk permanently damaging your key or ruining your ignition cylinder.
• Don’t excessively lubricate the ignition opening. This will make it hard to grab onto your key with your fingers or a tool.

Now for what to do to try and resolve your stuck ignition key problem.

2. Check to Make Sure Your Key Is In The Off Position

This one will make you feel kind of silly if this is why your key is stuck in the ignition. Hey, it happens. It’s better to feel silly than having to pay for an emergency locksmith service call.

3. Make Sure Your Car Is In Park

This can be another silly cause as to why your key cannot be freed from your ignition. Ditto for what I said above.

4. Try Grabbing The Shifter On The Steering Column And Jiggling The Steering Wheel

Anyone who has driven cars long enough will probably have had a need to do this step from time to time. Sometimes your key gets stuck in the ignition because the tumbler inside the ignition cylinder gets slightly out of position. Here is what to do in that case.

Put your right hand on your steering wheel in the 12 o’clock position. With your left hand, place it on the shifter on your steering column and pull it gently toward the steering wheel. Wiggle the steering wheel back and forth and see if this frees up your stuck ignition key.

5. Check Your Battery

Chances are you do not carry a battery tester around in your vehicle. There are other ways to check and see if you have a dead battery. One is to turn your key to the accessory position and see if your dash lights up; if your key is stuck it may not allow you to do this. In that case, hopefully, you have a pair of jumper cables on you. Hook one end of the jumper cable up to the negative battery terminal. After that, lightly touch the positive battery terminal to see if you have spark. If you get spark the battery is charged.

6. Try Gently Tugging on the Key

We have to put extra emphasis on the word GENTLY here. It may just be the case where your key just needs a little extra incentive to come out of the ignition. If it’s a regular key you can put a small screwdriver through its keychain hole and give a slight tug and nothing more. If it’s a transponder key stuck in the ignition feel free to move on to the next step.

7. Call a Locksmith And Ask For Emergency Lock Help

When all else fails call a local automotive locksmith to come to help you out. They are masters when it comes to working on vehicle ignition cylinder locks. Auto lock technicians like those at My Alpharetta Locksmith, LLC of Atlanta, Georgia carry everything they need on their service vehicles to remove stuck ignition keys, fix auto cylinder locks, and also replace ignition cylinder locks if necessary. Many even offer 24-hour emergency services if your stuck key has left you stranded far from home.