Spray A Tiny Amount Of Wd
The main purpose of WD-40 is to penetrate tight fittings and remove rust. Theyre usually used when you want to remove a rusty bolt or stop a rusty hinge from making noise. However, you can use it to lubricate components as well. If your key is stuck, we recommend spraying a bit of WD-40 to lubricate it, and hopefully, itll make the key come out easier.
WD-40 will usually come with a thin plastic straw. Attach that to the sprayer, and it should fit into the space between your key and the ignition cylinder. Spray the WD-40 into the ignition cylinder, wait for a minute or two, and then try to pull out the key. Afterward, if youre able to remove the key, inspect it for signs of damage. If you see cracks or its bent, then its time to get a new key.
Change The Gear Level To Park
When the key gets stuck in the ignition, its often because the car key was taken out without the gear lever being in the Park position. Make sure your car is in neutral or park before you take the key out.
If this is the case, make sure the shifter is in Park by moving it back and forth between Park and neutral while pressing the brake pedal, turning the key backward, and taking the key out.
Reasons Your Car Key Stuck In Ignition
Key stuck in the ignition! Admit that its among the worst fear in your mind as a driver. You could be in a hurry leaving for work or worst an emergency. While its usually uncommon but it can leave you stranded without much on your plate to work with. Since the key is stuck it might lead to panic as you cant just leave the vehicle unlocked with the key inside for going to work or worst being suck at home. With that being said never apply force in case the key gets stuck in the ignition because it is only going to make the situation worse therefore instead of wrestling with the key, just move the steering gently and try to remove it smoothly. However, if the key still doesnt get removed here are a couple of things to try.
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Check If The Battery Is Dead
A weak car battery can also get your car key stuck in the ignition. Remember, much like other components of a vehicle, the ignition system also needs power to operate properly. A simple solution to this problem is to work on the battery issue and get it up and running.
You will have to either jumpstart the battery or replace it with a new one. Once done, try to take the key out of ignition without applying too much force. Be careful and patient. Continuously pulling the key out of the keyhole while the battery is dead can break the key or damage the ignition cylinder.
Charge The Car Battery
A common problem when your key is stuck in the ignition is that the car battery is dead or low on voltage. Charge your car battery for some time with a car battery charger to see if its a low voltage problem. Low voltage can cause the ignition lock not to release the key. You can also take jump cables from another car if you are in a hurry and feel comfortable doing it.
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Key Ignition Switch Replacement
So, what if your key was stuck and now you got it out but upon inspection, it seems fine and not damaged? Well, you might have a faulty ignition cylinder, which you will need to replace. If you dont, you run the risk of getting your key stuck again and were sure you dont want that to happen again.
Keep in mind that this isnt a simple job. It doesnt require specialized tools, but it can be complicated if youre not particularly good with tools. If you dont feel like doing this yourself, you can have your mechanic do it for you. Most mechanics will charge around $250 for an ignition cylinder replacement. But depending on your cars make and model, you may pay more for the job.
What Is The Difference Between An Ignition Switch And Ignition Cylinder
The ignition switch and the ignition lock cylinder are not the same item. The lock cylinder is the mechanical tumbler into which your key is inserted, while the switch is the electrical component that supplies electricity to the car. These are two different components that may be fixed separately on many autos.
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Why Is My Car Key Stuck In The Ignition
May 24, 2022 by David Edwards
If your key doesnt turn in the ignition, you may still be able to remove it. Understandably, youll be panicking as you attempt to figure out what to do since you cant simply leave it in the ignition with the doors open while you go to work, home, or somewhere else you need to go.
Whatever you do, DO NOT try to extract the key by using brute force since you may break the key off altogether. Afterward, youll be dealing with a far more serious situation.
The key should easily slip out of the ignition once you have twisted it entirely counterclockwise and press the key release button on the key ring. The first important thing to do if your key wont come out of the ignition is to figure out what could be causing the issue.
How Do You Know If Your Ignition Lock Cylinder Is Bad
Like most electrical and mechanical components in a car, a failing ignition lock cylinder will give some signs to notify the driver that something is wrong with it. The symptoms are as follows
- Challenge in starting the vehicle
- Car not starting condition
- Issues in inserting and removing the ignition key
- No noise from the starter motor
- Flickering dashboard lights.
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Heres How To Repair An Ignition
Youre going to see that we ask you to refer back to your vehicles service manual regularly. This isnt because we dont know what were talking about. Its because we have no idea what kind of car you own and how it differs from the directions we expect to give.
If you need to replace the ignition switch, youll need to get new keys to go with it, so dont forget!
Lets do this!
By Step On How To Get Key Out Of Ignition
As there are several reasons a car key gets stuck in the ignition, there are also a series of instructions on how to get the key out of the ignition. Lets explore the guides below.
Recharge your car battery: As a dead battery can cause a car key to get stuck in the ignition, recharging the battery will free the key.
If you suspect a low voltage battery or notice a repeated clicking when turning the key, recharge the battery to see if it is a low voltage problem. You can jump-start the car with another battery or another vehicle.
Shift the gear lever to park: A common problem for a stuck key in the ignition is removing the car key without properly shifting the gear lever to the Park position.
If this is the case, ensure the shifter is in Park by wiggling it between Park and neutral position while stepping on the brake pedal, switching the ignition key backward, and pulling out the key.
Unlock the steering wheel: As alluded to above, a wheel lock is a safety feature that prevents the steering wheel from moving when the key is removed. If the steering wheel locks with the key in the ignition, Try wiggling it back and forth while gently pulling out the ignition key.
Spray lubricant in the ignition cylinder: If the key is stuck due to debris, oil the lock with any spray lubricant. This can be challenging because the key is blocking the lock. You will need a spray lubricant straw to achieve this. An excellent example of such a lubricant is WD-40.
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My Key Wont Come Out Of Ignition: Why
Have you ever been in a frustrating situation where the key wont come out of ignition? If you have never been, imagine how annoying and stressful that can be! You will end up panicking most probably since you cant just leave the car that way with the key just hanging out in the ignition.
Just remember to not apply force on your stuck keys to get them out of the ignition. This article discusses the reasons why your car keys can get stuck in ignition so read on!
What Is Key Ignition
The key ignition used in a motor vehicle to turn the ignition switch that connects the battery to the ignition system and other electrical devices.
As the key slides into the slot, it pushes a set of tumblers in the ignition into a precise pattern to allow the key to be rotated to close the ignition circuit. That circuit then delivers power to the starter motor, which turns the engine so the spark plugs can fire and the engine operates.
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Ensure Your Car Is Turned Off
Many times a car key gets stuck in the ignition because the driver forgets to turn off the vehicle properly. Start with the basics when the key gets stuck: check if your car is still running, switch it off properly and then try to remove the key from the ignition. Drivers often dont fully rotate the ignition cylinder when turning off their vehicle in haste. The car is technically still on in this case and your car key can get stuck in the ignition. Rotate the key and turn the car off to easily remove the key.
What Are The Reasons Why My Key Wont Come Out Of Ignition
There are a variety of reasons why your car keys decide to stay stuck in the ignition. Some issues may be unique to the make and model of your car while some can happen to any vehicle. Knowing the different reasons that cause such a situation can come in handy to help you take the necessary steps to handle them so read on!
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Get Help With Repairing An Ignition From A Mechanic On Justanswer
The Drive recognizes that while our How-To guides are detailed and easily followed, a rusty bolt, an engine component not in the correct position, or oil leaking everywhere can derail a project. Thats why weve partnered with JustAnswer, which connects you to certified mechanics around the globe, to get you through even the toughest jobs.
So if you have a question or are stuck, and talk to a mechanic near you.
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Shaking The Gear Cylinder
There is a feature in automatic cars that you cant remove the key unless the selector lies in the park or neutral. Hence, gently shake the selector to release your key.
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Help: My Battery Is Dead My Key Is Stuck
Dear Car Talk:
I have a Pontiac G5, and my key got stuck in my ignition. I believe my battery is dead. If I replace the battery, will the key be released from the ignition? Linda
Im not sure why the key was in the ignition when the battery died, Linda. Were you leaving it ready to go, hoping somebody would steal it?
Anyway, your key problem may be related to the dead battery. Theres something called an interlock solenoid on your car that locks the steering wheel when you put the car in park.
That solenoid is located near the shifter, in the center console. When you put the car in park, it actuates a pin that locks the steering wheel. If theres no power at all, that solenoid wont work, and you wont be able to unlock the steering wheel. And if the steering wheel is not in the exact right position, itll prevent you from turning the key to the off position and removing it.
CHECK CAR PRICES:
Now, its possible that the pin is just stuck, and it has nothing to do with your battery. The first thing wed do at our shop is try violently shaking the steering wheel. Of course, were animals, so thats to be expected. But if the pin is just stuck for mechanical reasons, sometimes physical force can get it to release. So, try moving the steering wheel back and forth as best you can while you jiggle the key and see if you can get the key to the off position.
If not, dont replace the battery yet. Try jump-starting the car first.
2019 by Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman
Broken Key Stuck In Ignition Fix #: Try A Thin Wire
If you dont have either a key extractor or a jigsaw blade, you can make use of a thin wire. This wire needs to be thin enough that it can slide into the ignition cylinder, but strong enough to maintain its shape as you try to pull the key out. The steps are as follows:
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What Happens If Car Key Battery Dies
Simply insert the dead fob like a key, and youre ready to start the engine with the press of a button. If it doesnt work, use your key fob to press the START button on your Ford car. If your fobs battery is dead, this should work, but in any event, you should have it replaced as quickly as possible.
Help: My Battery Is Dead And My Key Is Stuck
Dear Car Talk:
I have a Pontiac G5, and my key got stuck in my ignition.
I believe my battery is dead. If I replace the battery, will the key be released from the ignition? Linda
RAY: I’m not sure why the key was in the ignition when the battery died, Linda. Were you leaving it “ready to go,” hoping somebody would steal it?
Anyway, your key problem may be related to the dead battery. Theres something called an interlock solenoid on your car that locks the steering wheel when you put the car in park.
That solenoid is located near the shifter, in the center console. When you put the car in park, it actuates a pin that locks the steering wheel. If theres no power at all, that solenoid wont work, and you wont be able to unlock the steering wheel. And if the steering wheel is not in the exact right position, itll prevent you from turning the key to the off position and removing it.
Now, its possible that the pin is just stuck, and it has nothing to do with your battery. The first thing wed do at our shop is try violently shaking the steering wheel. Of course, were animals, so thats to be expected. But if the pin is just stuck for mechanical reasons, sometimes physical force can get it to release. So, try moving the steering wheel back and forth as best you can while you jiggle the key and see if you can get the key to the off position.
If not, dont replace the battery yet. Try jump-starting the car first.
I bet the jump start works, Linda. Good luck.
Dear Car Talk:
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Make Sure That You Have A Fully Charged Battery
Perhaps your car key is stuck in the ignition due to a battery that has low voltage or is completely dead. in this case, you want to make sure that your car battery is charged and has been charging for a considerable length of time. A battery with low voltage can cause your vehicles ignition to lock and not release the key.
What To Do If Your Ignition Key Breaks
The worst-case situation is a broken ignition key. A key extraction tool or hiring a professional locksmith is your two alternatives if your key breaks.
To remove the damaged key piece from the ignition, you need a key extractor tool. If your damaged key isnt correctly removed, hiring a professional locksmith is better.
Before you start the car, take one last check at your key. If your key is broken or unclean, it increases the likelihood that it may fall out of the ignition and become stuck.
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Steering Wheel Lock Check
Now that you have parked the car in the correct gear and the key is on the lock point of the ignition, try turning the steering right and left. If it doesnt move then you have activated the steering wheel lock. Plenty of new cars come with this anti-theft feature where you can just lock the steering wheel hence preventing to steer if someone tries to start with circuiting the wires. In order to unlock the steering wheel, move it smoothly on lead and right and turn the key. This will disengage the steering lock leading to setting out the key.