Your vehicle’s ignition cylinder is a small, but important part of your vehicle. You use it every single time you drive your car, even though you may not pay much attention to it at all. The top part of your ignition cylinder is the flat, silver disk with the key slot that sits on the right-hand side of your vehicle’s steering wheel. This is the top portion of your ignition cylinder. The rest of the cylinder sits tucked inside the vehicle’s paneling.
The ignition cylinder helps keep your vehicle key in place while you are driving and it is also outfitted with sensors that notify the vehicle that the proper key is in place. When your ignition cylinder malfunctions, certain symptoms can occur that will indicate that the ignition cylinder is the source of the problem.
Blocked Ignition Cylinder
One of the first issues you may experience with a broken ignition cylinder is a blocked key slot. If the ignition cylinder is damaged, bent, or blocked in any way, it may be impossible to get your key into the slot. Ignition cylinders can become blocked with dust and debris or may become bent out of shape from wear and tear over time. Even fender-benders or car accidents can cause internal damage to your vehicle which may affect your ignition cylinder.
Cannot Remove Your Key
You may also have the opposite problem. Instead of not being able to insert your vehicle key properly, you may be unable to remove it at all. Sometimes, if an ignition cylinder gets bent or damaged in a particular way, you may be able to insert your key initially but then be unable to extract it. It is important to note that you should not attempt to forcefully remove your vehicle key for any reason. You may end up breaking your vehicle key and the ignition cylinder itself, which will inevitably cost you more money and time to fix.
Trouble Powering on the Vehicle
A final and common symptom of a broken ignition cylinder is having a difficult time powering on the vehicle. Even if you are able to insert and extract your key with no problems, you may experience symptoms that are similar to a dead battery. When ignition cylinders break or are out of place, you may not be able to power on your vehicle. Even the electrical paneling in your car’s interior may fail to light up. This can indicate that the ignition cylinder is not reading that the key is in the slot and therefore the car is not able to power on.
If you are experiencing any of the issues listed above and suspect that your ignition cylinder is the root cause of your vehicle trouble, it is advised that you call a mobile locksmith. Mobile locksmiths are professional locksmiths that are able to perform a wide variety of locksmithing procedures while on-the-go. They drive specialized vehicles that are outfitted with all of the tools and hardware they need in order to fix ignition cylinders and other vehicle lock and key issues right on-site.
On-site assistance for vehicle lock and key problems is especially important. Having an expert come to your location means you will save a lot of time and money. Even though ignition cylinder issues can be a hassle and put a delay in your plans, contacting a mobile locksmith will ensure that you receive the right kind of assistance that you need and as quickly as possible.
Most professional locksmiths offer mobile services, since vehicle lock and key issues are common and often leave drivers stranded. If you need an ignition cylinder replacement or some other lock and key issue with your vehicle addressed as soon as possible, call around and find a credible locksmith in your area that can send out an expert to your location. Once a mobile locksmith has had a look at your ignition cylinder in person, they can swap it out for a new one and get you back on the road as soon as possible.
If possible, it is recommended that you allow a locksmith to fix your vehicle’s ignition cylinder, rather than take your car into a dealership. This is to save you both time and money. By not choosing to work with a mobile locksmith, you will inevitably tack on unneeded expenses to your repair bill. Taking your car to a dealership for an ignition cylinder repair means that you will first have to hire a tow truck. Depending on how far away you are from a dealership or repair shop, transportation of your vehicle alone may cost you hundreds of dollars. Then, once you arrive at a dealership, you will acquire another bill to cover the cost of labor and the replacement of your ignition cylinder.
Instead of going through multiple companies and taking several steps to get your ignition cylinder repaired, it just makes sense to call a mobile locksmith first. You will have a single bill owed to one company or individual, rather than several bills spread out across companies. Additionally, when you work with a mobile locksmith, you will receive the fastest and most affordable service possible in order to address your problem.