This all takes place within a millisecond, you turn your key a tiny bit too harshly in a stuck lock, and its blade snaps, leaving one part in your hands and another inside the cylinder. The first reaction to such a situation is understandable and usually rather negative. But broken keys can be easily dealt with, provided that you make the right subsequent decisions and do not push the broken piece even deeper into the lock. See our car key replacement service.
The worst thing you can do when a key snaps is try to get it back in order to push the remaining portion out. This will only help drive the damaged portion deeper into the cylinder. First things first, calm down and assess the location and the severity of the damage. Figure out which key is snapped door, ignition or trunk, and see if at least a part of the blade is protruding outwards.
If there’s any remaining metal showing, it might just come out using needle nose pliers or tweezers, but without twisting or wiggle. The key is applying pressure straight down on the piece, not twisting or pulling. If it doesn’t come out easily, quit. You could break it off even with the skin, making the problem worse.
Once you can no longer see any portion of the key that was broken off, it's time to consult an experienced locksmith, who will bring his extractor tool specifically designed to pull keys out of the cylinder safely without scratching its wafers. Using super glue on another key, inserting it forcefully into the cylinder or bending a paperclip to act as a spare key can seriously damage the lock cylinder, once the blade snapped off flush with the surface, let professionals deal with it.
In generally key breaking is associated with a damaged aftermarket key that was worn over time, a corroded or otherwise non-responsive lock mechanism, or frozen lock cylinders, as it happens frequently in Chicago winters, you can read more about Chicago's weather impact on locks and keys, please refer to our article on that issue. Overwhelming any of these factors with your attempts to unlock your vehicle will result in snapped blade.
Upon your notification of the problem, our locksmith technician will extract the broken piece and immediately cut you a new working key in case your ignition or door lock has been damaged, which can occur with the cylinder being worn out. Read more about it in our ignition cylinder problems article. You can request key cutting services here.
A few tips will help you avoid this problem: stop using bent keys, use dry lubricants for door locks prior to winter season, never force turning the key, and always have at least one spare key at hand to never get locked out of your car again.
The door shuts and the keys are on the seat. Stay calm: most lockouts end fast if you skip the moves that cause damage.
Read article →Cutting a spare while your original still works is cheap and quick, and turns a future crisis into a simple errand.
Read article →An ignition rarely quits without warning. Five signs to watch for, and why catching them early avoids a breakdown.
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