How to Extract a Broken Key from the Ignition 

Imagine you are running late for work, and as soon as you hop into your car and insert the key into the ignition, your key breaks off inside the ignition. Nothing is more stressful than getting your key broken in the ignition right when rushing somewhere. It’s a common nightmare that can happen to you any day. While this situation is stressful, you must not panic and should think about the solution. If you face such a situation for the first time, fear not, as this blog has got you covered. 

This blog will walk you through why a key breaks in the ignition and how you can extract it effortlessly. Moreover, you will also find some expert tips with which you can deal with this nightmare effortlessly. So, let’s start and learn more about extracting a broken key from the ignition.

Why a Key Breaks in the Ignition? 

Several reasons can lead to the breakage of a key in the ignition. Knowing the exact reason, you can deal with the situation appropriately. Some of the widespread reasons for key breakage in the ignition are:

1. Low Temperatures

Temperature greatly impacts the ignition and vehicle key appearance. The ignition may freeze in low temperatures, so the keys may not fit. If you push it in too hard, the key might break within the lock.

2. Dirt on Key 

It isn’t healthy for your vehicle key’s health to constantly use it to scrape dirt or open packages, even if it may seem like a handy tool. The key will eventually break due to debris and dust accumulation.

3. Dead Battery 

While there is no apparent relationship between your car’s key and the battery, it plays a role. When the car battery is dead, it locks the ignition system, which may cause the key to get stuck and eventually break. 

Avoiding these common issues may save your car key from breaking.

Steps to Extract a Broken Key from the Ignition 

Here are the simple steps you should follow when the key breaks in the ignition system:

Step 1: Gather Necessary Tools 

If you want to do the job efficiently, you must use the right tools. Here are some important tools you should keep with yourself when extracting a broken key from the ignition:

• Tweezers 
• Pliers
• Lubricating spray 
• Key extractor tool

Step 2: Use a Lubricant 

The dirt collection within the car’s ignition is most likely the main cause of the damaged key being trapped inside. To simplify removing the stuck ignition key, try it with a lubricant like WD-40.spraying 

Step 3: Extract the Broken Key 

The tool you need to extract a broken key from the ignition depends on the situation and how it got stuck. You can use pliers or tweezers to extract the key if it is visible. But, a key extractor will be necessary if the key is buried deep inside the ignition.

1. Extract the Broken Key with Tweezers 

Employing tweezers, carefully grasp the broken key and attempt to extract it. The key may be released from the ignition pins with a small twist. Once done, you can use lubrication spray to coat the ignition cylinder if necessary.

2. Extract the Broken Key with the Key Extraction Tool 

A key extraction tool has a hook at the end and is thin and lengthy. It can latch onto the key fragment and slide into the ignition. Try to work the broken key out with the extractor until you can take it out with tweezers or pliers.

Step 4: Seek Professional Assistance 

However, sometimes the situation worsens, and even a key extraction tool will not be useful because the key is buried in the ignition. In such a case, you will need expert assistance to do the job. No matter the situation, a residential locksmith can do your job.

Tips to Extract a Broken Key from the Ignition 

Here are the tips you should keep in mind:

1. Handle the slippery key with care

You should handle the broken key with extreme care. If it gets slippery, it will penetrate the ignition even more, so stop immediately and call an affordable locksmith to prevent the situation from worsening.

2. Don’t insert anything in the ignition

When the key breaks in the ignition, you will get panicked, and in that stressful situation, you are most likely to insert anything in your reach to take the key out. However, note that doing so will not help you but make it even harder to extract the key, as the things you insert may block the ignition. 

3. Remove the key gently 

Since the ignition is a costly part of your car, you cannot get insurance coverage for its repairs. Do not attempt to remove the damaged key from the ignition with force. Removing the key with force might harm the ignition system and make it useless, so do it gently.

4. Use lubricants carefully 

The ignition has electrical components around it, which may be harmed due to excessive lubrication. You should only lubricate the key and the ignition hole to avoid such a scenario. It is best to use a high-quality lubricant like WD-40 that will serve the purpose even when applied in small amounts.

5. Avoid using magnets 

While it would seem smart to use magnets to remove the broken key, it is not in reality. The ignition system has electrical components, so bridging the magnet near it may harm those electrical parts. Moreover, a magnet can also force the broken key pieces to move farther into the lock.

Conclusion

Facing a situation where your key breaks in the ignition is very stressful, especially if you are running late. However, following the steps highlighted in this blog post, you can solve the problem effortlessly. Moreover, the tips above will also help you ensure a smooth process. While all this help is available, sometimes the situation gets out of hand, and you must call for professional help. In that case, search for a cheap locksmith near me and get the job done within your budget.