What to Do If Your Car Key is Stuck in the Ignition?

One of the most used locks in your life is your auto ignition lock. It’s probably a safe bet that you take your key in and out of your ignition at least 3 – 4 times a day. That adds up to a lot of wear and tear on your ignition cylinder lock. Over time it’s very likely that your ignition cylinder lock or the key that goes in it will have a problem. One of the most common ignition cylinder lock problems is that it will not let your key come out of it. In this article, I will talk about what you can do to solve a stuck ignition key problem.

When your ignition key gets stuck it just may leave you stranded away from home. First of all, don’t panic and immediately call for help. There are some things that you can do to try and get the stuck ignition key out. There are also several things you absolutely don’t want to try. I will go over both of those right now. If you take this advice there is a good chance that you will be able to free your ignition key yourself without any help.

Tricks You Can Do If Your Key Is Stuck in the Ignition

Here are some steps you can try if you are having a tough time removing a car key from your ignition. 

• 1. The very first thing you should do is to make sure that the ignition key is turned into the off position. Chances are if it’s not your dashboard indicator lights will be on. Ig your ignition key is not in the off position the system is designed not to let your key come out.
• 2. Also, try jiggling the ignition key back and forth gently in the ignition cylinder. Sometimes this is all that’s required to loosen your car ignition key up a little bit and that allows it to be pulled out easier. Don’t use too much force when doing this.
• 3. The locking mechanism on your ignition cylinder lock can also become slightly misaligned. To correct this, place your left hand on the shift on the steering wheel column and the other one in the twelve o’clock position on the steering wheel. Jiggle the steering wheel a few inches each direction. At the same time pull the shifter on the steering wheel column lightly towards the steering wheel. See if this allows your ignition key to be released.
• 4. Find a piece of shoelace or string and put it through the keyhole at the end of the ignition key. Once this is done GENTLY pull on the string or shoelace to see if you can pull out the ignition key. This is not recommended to do if you have transponder keys because it may break them. 

What ‘NOT’ to Do If You’re Key Is Stuck in Your Ignition

• Never try to force anything like a screwdriver down along your key in the ignition cylinder. If the cause of your stuck key is a bad key, then doing this could also damage your ignition cylinder lock beyond repair. You will have just made a fairly inexpensive repair into a much more expensive one if this happens.
• Don’t ever use tools to get a better grip or give you more leverage to help pull your key out of the ignition. Once again, the reason for this is it could damage the ignition cylinder beyond repair or even break the key off in the lock. This would be disastrous and make any professional repair much more difficult.
• Never try disassembling your ignition cylinder lock yourself unless you really know what you are doing. Doing this task wrong may not only hurt your ignition cylinder lock but may also harm other critical components of your ignition system as well.
• You also don’t want to ever do such things as banging on the ignition cylinder with a hammer or other heavy tool. This will most likely do more harm than good.

What Steps Can You Take to Keep Your Key from Getting Stuck Ianthe Ignition in the First Place?

• Never place a bent or broken key into your ignition. 
• Never force a key in your ignition. This can cause bigger problems. A properly working ignition key should easily slide into it.
• Inspect your keys before putting them in your ignition to make sure they have no burrs, large nicks or worn our teeth.
• Do not insert a key that is wet into the ignition. You have to be very careful when using the key, you unlocked your door with in the ignition if it's doing such things outside as raining or snowing. It may cause corrosion or other issues over time.
• You also want to avoid placing any key that has a sticky residue on it into the ignition. So be careful when putting identifying tape or other marking products on your car keys.
• Any keys that you think are suspect as to how they look and will function should be immediately replaced.
• Keeping a spare key on you at all times is always a good idea too. Use it if you think using your main car key in the ignition might cause a problem.  

If Nothing Else Works Call a Locksmith

What’s the best way to get a situation where your key is stuck in your ignition resolved? If you guessed by calling a locksmith you would be absolutely right. These trained lock professionals are experts at handling all sorts of ignition lock and key issues. Locksmith companies such as Chanhassen Locksmith out of Chanhassen, Minnesota are even able to do ignition lock change-outs right on site. Locksmith companies carry many replacement ignitions on their spacious service vehicles and all the necessary equipment to handle any type of stuck ignition key situation. 

So, calling a professional locksmith is definitely your best choice if you cannot resolve a stuck ignition key situation yourself.