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Vehicle ignition cylinders can often need repair or replacement due to various reasons. It might just mean that it has gone through some use and needs to be replaced before further use of a faulty ignition causes any damage to the vehicle, or it might be due to getting damaged because of external factors. In any case, it is ideal to replace it as soon as possible so that the use of it causes no permanent damage.
There are ways to identify whether or not you have a faulty ignition cylinder on your hands. Whether it’s because of wear and tear or, for instance, an attempted vehicle robbery, your ignition cylinder can become hard or impossible to use. For instance, let’s assume that you were having trouble with your ignition and you put the key in and out several times to get it to start, or continuously turned it clockwise and counter clockwise until the vehicle would start. This can cause considerable damage to the inside of the ignition and cause it to stop working.
Ideally, having to attempt a few times to start the vehicle should be a little concerning and the ideal time to inspect and replace the ignition, but a tell-tale sign of an ignition with problems is when you turn the key and the car stalls or doesn’t start at all. You may think the battery is being troublesome or there is some other reason why the vehicle won’t start, but one of the first things to consider should be a faulty ignition cylinder. Enough power is not passing through the ignition to the car to start it and this may be due to a break inside the ignition. Having it examined immediately is ideal.
As mentioned above, if the problem is linked to wear and tear, you may find that your key doesn’t turn in the ignition or it doesn’t go into the ignition easily or at all. This is a sure-fire way to identify an ignition cylinder problem if you are sure that the key itself is not the problem, and you can get in touch with a professional to advise you and help with the replacement of the vehicle’s ignition lock.
Another way to identify an ignition problem is by noticing flickering dashboard lights. This isn’t a very common way to identify the problem but can be linked to a problematic ignition cylinder. This will usually happen, in cases where it does happen, while the car is running. It may not be frequent but it is an important sign to know so that you can take your car to the professionals at the first sign of trouble.
These are ways to identify ignition cylinder problems but there are certain instances where you should know how to handle these problems when you can’t get to a professional and need to address the issue as soon as possible. You might get flustered in a simple situation and you might not need a professional at all in certain instances. It is advised that you visit a professional in severe cases but here are a few situations where the ignition cylinder can pose problems and can also be fixed quickly and easily by yourself.
There is a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the ignition. If you turn the steering wheel and turn off the ignition or turn off the ignition and then turn the steering wheel, the steering wheel can get locked and doesn’t allow the ignition to be turned on. This is just a lock and can be dealt with easily. All you have to do is rotate the steering wheel in both directions and adjust the key lightly in the ignition until you feel that the ignition is released and can now be turned on.
If your ignition fails to start, it might be something as simple as some debris. Take a look inside the lock ignition cylinder to see if you can see dust and debris. Something as minor as this can sometimes cause an ignition to be problematic since it results in the key tumbler inside the ignition to get jammed. You can blast pressurized air through and then apply lubricant inside the ignition to release the lock tumbler and allow the ignition to work again.
If you’re not sure of the scale of the problem and do not know how to deal with them before asking for professional help, you can always call a locksmith that will be willing to advise you on how to proceed. Professionals can offer tips and steps to take to address potential small problems before diagnosing the car with a problem like a malfunctioning ignition cylinder that needs to be replaced.
It is advised that serious issues be taken to a professional since your safety is at stake. If the issue involves the replacement of the ignition altogether, as mentioned above, it is not as easy as it seems to replace it yourself. There is not much that you will be able to do. Hence, let a professional take care of it since it requires the removal of items such as the steering wheel cover or the steering wheel itself and other parts than just the ignition part itself, and it would be preferred that an expert take care of the problem with the least amount of time and trouble. However, smaller issues, as addressed above, can easily be fixed at home and can require no assistance at all, which is why you can always look up a local helpful locksmith to assist you in situations where a quick and easy solution is available.
