How to get a broken key out of the ignition
Auto repair

How to get a broken key out of the ignition

09.11.2022 /

After many years of operation, the car key may break in the lock. When this happens, the lock becomes unusable until you remove the broken part. If your car was already locked when the key broke, you won't be able to…

After many years of operation, the car key may break in the lock. When this happens, the lock becomes unusable until you can pull out the broken piece. If your car was already locked when the key broke, you won't be able to open it and you'll also need a new key.

The good news is that technology is making this particular issue moot; Over the past decade, automakers have increasingly equipped new models of cars and vehicles with "smart keys" that contain a microchip to start the engine with a simple push of a button. The bad news is that if you lose your smart key and don't have a spare, you'll yearn for the aggravated antiquity of removing the broken key from the ignition.

Here are four methods for safely and effectively removing a broken key from a cylinder.

Necessary materials

  • Broken key extraction tool
  • Смазка
  • Needle nose pliers

Step 1: Turn off the engine and park the car.. Immediately after breaking the key, make sure that the car engine is off, the emergency brake is on, and the car is parked.

Step 2: Lubricate the lock. Spray some lock lubricant onto the lock cylinder.

Step 3: Insert the key extractor into the lock.. Insert the broken key extractor into the lock cylinder with the end of the hook pointing up.

Step 4: Rotate the Extractor. When you feel the extractor stop, you have reached the end of the lock cylinder.

Gently rotate the extraction tool towards the teeth of the broken key.

Step 5: Pull out the extraction tool. Slowly pull the extractor towards you and try to hook the extractor hook on the key tooth.

Once you've hooked it, keep pulling until a small piece of the broken key comes out of the cylinder. If you don't succeed the first time, keep trying to pull out the broken pieces.

Step 6: Pull out the broken key. Once part of the broken key is out of the cylinder, you can use pliers to pull the entire key out.

Method 2 of 4: use a jigsaw blade

Necessary materials

  • Blades of lobzika
  • Смазка

Step 1: Lubricate the lock. Spray some lock lubricant onto the lock cylinder.

Step 2: Insert the blade into the lock. Take the blade of a manual jigsaw and carefully insert it into the lock cylinder.

Step 3: Pull the blade out of the lock. When the blade of the manual jigsaw stops sliding, you have reached the end of the lock cylinder.

Carefully turn the jigsaw blade towards the key and try to catch the blades on the tooth (or several teeth) of the key. Slowly pull the jigsaw blade out of the lock.

Step 4: Pull out the broken key. Once a small part of the broken key is out of the key cylinder, use needle nose pliers to pull the broken key out completely.

Method 3 of 4: use thin wire

If you don't have a broken key extractor or a jigsaw blade, you can use wire if it's thin enough to slide into the lock cylinder, yet strong enough to hold its shape both when entering the lock and when exit from it. cylinder.

Necessary materials

  • Смазка
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Strong/thin wire

Step 1: Lubricate the lock. Spray lock lubricant into the lock cylinder.

Step 2: Make a small hook. Use needle nose pliers to make a small hook at one end of the wire.

Step 3: Insert the hook into the lock. Insert the wire into the cylinder so that the end of the hook points towards the top of the lock cylinder.

When you feel that the wire has stopped moving forward, you have reached the end of the cylinder.

Step 4: Pull out the wire. Turn the wire towards the teeth of the key.

Slowly try to catch your tooth on the bent wire and pull the wire out of the lock with the key.

Step 5: Pull out the broken key with pliers. Once a small part of the broken key is out of the cylinder, use needle nose pliers to pull it out completely.

Method 4 of 4: call a locksmith

Step 1: call a locksmith. If you don't have the right tools on hand, it's best to call a locksmith.

They will be able to extract your broken key and make a duplicate key for you on the spot.

A broken key in a lock can seem like a complete disaster, but in most cases, you can save some money and fix the problem yourself with just a few simple tools. Once you remove the broken part from the lock cylinder, the locksmith can make a duplicate even if the key is in two parts. If you have any problems with the ability to turn the key in the ignition, ask one of AvtoTachki's mobile mechanics to check.

Add a comment