What is happening with your vehicle? Is the problem centered around your locks or keys? Maybe you are unsure of exactly what is going on, but you know that when you try to pull your key out of the ignition, it is stuck! Why would this happen? Who can you turn to for help? Is there a way to remove the key without calling in a locksmith? These are all valid questions and ones we will go over in this article about what to do – car key stuck in ignition!

You might need to hire a locksmith who is skilled in automotive security solutions. But, there might be an easy way for you to fix the issue yourself.

No matter what you do, don’t force the key out when it is stuck. It’s easy to get frustrated and try to do this, but you can end up causing further damage to your vehicle. You can call your local locksmith for assitance, but first we recommend checking out the steps provided…

Look for Indications of Wear

If you are using any product over and over again for years, then problems can arise, especially in the form of excessive wear. Unfortunately, this can really do a number when it comes to your vehicle. Specifically, problems can come up because of car keys that have not been properly used. Do you or have you ever utilized your vehicle’s key to open a box? What about to open a bottle? You know this isn’t a good idea, but it could end up damaging your key, which could in turn end up stuck in the ignition cylinder. If the key is damaged you could look into transponder key programming. If it is something else, such as an ignition cylinder issue, you can turn to a locksmith concentrating on auto lock services.

Use the Steering Wheel

You might be wondering what we mean. But here’s the thing – your steering wheel might lock up, and this could cause the key to become stuck in the ignition. If turning the steering wheel from side to side doesn’t work to loosen the key, then it’s possible the system has been damaged. In this case, you might want to turn to a locksmith, but it is worth checking if the old trick of moving the steering wheel from side to side works. The solution really could be that simple.

Shut off the Car

If your car key is stuck, did you check to make sure that it is definitely fully off? If the key isn’t properly placed in the correct position, the car won’t shut off completely which will leave the key stuck in the ignition cylinder. Again, this is a simple solution but you might overlook it if you are panicked and trying to remove your key.

Look for an Electric Issue

Did you try the trick of rotating your steering wheel back and forth? Did it fail to work? If so, maybe it’s an electric issue causing the problem. Knowing the problem can help to have it resolved faster.

See if the Key is Broken

If the key is stuck, it could be that it is broken in half. Maybe you went to remove the key and only a portion of it came out. You are going to need to contact a locksmith for transponder key programming because you will need a replacement key. Obviously, a key that is broken is not going to do you any good.

Problematic Ignition Cylinder

Could it be that the ignition cylinder is damaged? If so, you might need ignition switch replacement. A locksmith can help with this. Or, you can take the step of looking to see if something made its way into the ignition cylinder that is blocking it in some way. WD 40 or even a gust of air can be used to get any debris out. Ensuring your vehicle stays clean is one way to prevent this problem from reoccurring.

Tried everything above and still need help? When you are ready, get in touch with a mobile locksmith for service. This is assuming you tried the above steps but did not have any luck or you do not feel comfortable with any of the aforementioned steps.

We know how simple it is to feel a sense of frustration when something is wrong with your car. And a problem like a stuck key in the ignition cylinder is one that can be quite stressful. That’s because you can be left stranded in a parking lot. No one wants to have to deal with this!

What are some of the services that you could turn to an auto locksmith for? Can they help with anything else besides broken key extraction? The short answer is – yes, they sure can! Other popular services you will find through a locksmith include transponder key programming, transponder key duplication and of course ignition switch replacement. A locksmith can do all of these things for you. Being mobile will mean that all you have to do is place a call and a technician will come to your location, so if you are stuck in a parking lot you can rest assured that this won’t be the case for much longer.

If you found yourself here because something is happening with your vehicle, specifically regarding the locks or keys, then we hope this information has been useful for you. Maybe you are unsure of exactly what is going on, but now you know not to force pull your key out of the ignition because it might only make the issue worse. Hopefully, after reading this article on what to do – car key stuck in ignition, you know better what to do. Thank you for taking your time to learn more about this situation!