Ignition Lock Repair in Memphis, TN
Signs Your Ignition Lock Needs Repair
How to Tell Your Ignition Lock Has a Problem
Key is hard to turn.
You find yourself applying more pressure than usual to get the key to rotate. This often means the internal wafers or pins inside the ignition cylinder are wearing down.
Key gets stuck in the ignition.
You can insert the key but cannot pull it out, or the key goes in but will not turn at all. This can happen when a worn key no longer lines up properly with the cylinder, or when the cylinder itself has an internal failure.
Key turns but the engine does not start.
The ignition cylinder rotates, but nothing happens electrically. This can point to a problem with the ignition switch, which sits behind the cylinder and handles the electrical connection that tells your car to start.
Steering wheel locks and the key will not budge.
Many vehicles lock the steering column when the car is off. If the wheel is turned at an angle when the car is parked, it can put pressure on the ignition cylinder and prevent the key from turning. Sometimes jiggling the steering wheel solves it. If it does not, the cylinder may be failing.
The key broke off inside the ignition
A worn or damaged key can snap when you try to turn it. If part of the key is trapped inside the cylinder, do not try to dig it out with pliers or a screwdriver. Call us and we will extract the broken piece safely and cut a replacement key on the spot.
What Causes Ignition Lock Failure
Common Causes of Ignition Lock Problems
Worn key.
Over years of daily use, the ridges and grooves on your key gradually smooth out. A worn key does not engage the internal pins correctly, which makes the cylinder harder to turn and increases the risk of the key snapping. Getting a fresh duplicate made before the key is too far gone can prevent ignition problems down the road.
Worn ignition cylinder.
The cylinder itself contains small pins or wafers that align with the grooves on your key. After thousands of turns, those internal components wear down too. When the wear reaches a certain point, the cylinder stops responding reliably to the key.
Faulty transponder signal.
Vehicles with transponder chip keys require a valid electronic signal from the key before the ignition system will engage. If the chip is damaged, the battery in a smart key is dead, or the key fob is malfunctioning, the car may think an unauthorized key is being used and refuse to start.
Ignition switch failure.
The ignition switch is the electrical component behind the cylinder. It translates the physical turning of the key into an electrical signal that starts the car. When the switch fails, the cylinder may turn fine but nothing happens electrically. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued recalls on multiple vehicle models over the years due to faulty ignition switches, so this is not an uncommon problem.
Debris or foreign objects.
Dirt, lint, and small debris can work their way into the keyhole over time and interfere with the cylinder's internal mechanism.
Our Ignition Lock Repair Services
What We Fix
Broken key extraction.
We safely remove broken key pieces from the cylinder without damaging the lock.
Ignition cylinder repair.
We rebuild or repair worn cylinders so the key engages and turns smoothly again.
Ignition switch repair.
If the electrical switch behind the cylinder is the issue, we diagnose and fix the connection.
Ignition lock rekeying.
We reconfigure the cylinder to work with a new key, which is useful if your key is too worn to copy or if you want to eliminate old keys from working.
Ignition lock replacement.
When the cylinder is beyond repair, we install a new one and program your key to match.
Ignition troubleshooting.
Not sure what the problem is? We diagnose the issue on-site and explain your options before we start any work.
FAQ
Ignition Lock Repair Questions
My key is stuck in the ignition. What should I do?
Can you repair the ignition, or does it always need to be replaced?
How long does an ignition lock repair take?
Will I need a new key after the ignition is repaired?
Do you come to my location for ignition repairs?
