Your car’s ignition lock cylinder is an essential part. Despite how crucial it is, most car owners don’t give it enough thought. They neglect it until eventually it breaks down, at which point you are unable to operate it correctly or start your car. You might then need to replace it.
Removing it is a reasonably easy job if you have the key. The procedure necessitates some more steps without it.
In This Article...
Tools You’ll Need To Change An Ignition Key Lock Without A Key
You must ensure that you have the necessary tools in order to correctly remove an ignition lock cylinder without a key:
- energy drill
- drilling bit
- philips screwdriver
Step OneBattery Disconnection
Disconnecting the battery is the first step in removing or replacing an ignition lock cylinder without a key. This is a preventative measure to ensure that nothing in your automobile shorts out or that you receive an electric shock.
Step TwoSteering Wheel Removal
The next step is to remove the steering wheel from your car so you can fully access the lock cylinder. After removing the steering wheel’s upper and lower covers with all of the screws attached, push the wheel upward and pull at the central cover. The car horn’s wires are now free to be disconnected.
Pull the steering wheel entirely out of its shaft after ensuring that the nuts and washers are stored in a secure location.
Step FiveElectrics to Ignition Switch disconnection
In order to remove the ignition switch, locate and detach the mounting screws for it.
Make sure to carefully unplug each wire from its corresponding connector on the ignition switch’s bottom. To remove the switch, loosen the tabs.
Step SixMounting Bolts Removal
To remove the mounting bolts or screws from the ignition switch, use a socket wrench or screwdriver. The housing and switch assembly that houses the lock cylinder must be completely unbolted.
The majority of car models come with universal, replaceable lock cylinders. These may be removed rather quickly by inserting a pin into the release mechanism.
Step SevenCheck the Ignition Switch Housing Mounting Bolts
Depending on the manufacturer, some car models include snap-off safety bolt heads that are simple to remove. This part’s purpose is to stop burglars from breaking into your automobile and changing the ignition lock so they can start it without a key. For the ignition switch to be removed from the steering wheel column, you might need to utilize a power drill with extractors that are designed to loosen nuts.
Step EightKey Cylinder Locking
Take a paperclip that has been straightened and place it in the ignition lock cylinder’s slot before rotating it counterclockwise. As a result, the cylinder is locked and the ignition cannot turn on.
Step NineScrewdriver
Utilizing your screwdriver, access the ignition lock cylinder. As much as you can, rotate it in a clockwise motion. Then, yank the paperclip as far to the right as you can. The switch should then be simple to slide out after that.
This is truly all there is to it. If you have an older car and have never worked on the ignition lock cylinder before, it might not be the easiest thing to do. This is due to the fact that the cylinder will have a lot of accumulated dust and debris.
Step 10Replacing the Ignition Lock Cylinder
Whether or not an ignition lock cylinder without a key has to be cleaned and replaced will all rely on the various parts and how they are doing. If everything appears to be in order and to be functioning properly following a thorough cleaning and oiling, you can use the same keys to rebuild it. It might be necessary to purchase a new ignition switch, though.
You should keep in mind that it may be a good idea to contact with a manufacturer dealership for advice on how to get replacement keys unless you are certain that any generic ignition switch lock cylinder (or the individual components you need to replace) will work in your automobile. To ensure that you receive the correct item, be sure to include the exact model, year, and manufacturer of your car along with the VIN number.
When the key won’t turn, how do you remove the ignition lock cylinder?
Before calling a locksmith, try the following steps if your car’s ignition lock cylinder won’t turn.
- Request a new mechanical key from the closest dealership with your vehicle registration and a photo ID (a key with no transponder chip). Try using the new key to spin the ignition lock cylinder next. Frequently, worn-out keys rather than a broken ignition lock cylinder are to blame when the ignition lock won’t spin.
- Try spraying WD40 into the ignition lock cylinder and jiggling the ignition with the newly produced key if the ignition lock cylinder won’t turn with the new key.
- Try pushing the ignition lock cylinder if the new mechanical key alone wasn’t enough to make the ignition turn. Spray WD40 into the ignition lock cylinder, insert a new mechanical key partially, and then bump the remaining portion of the key into the ignition lock cylinder using the handle of a hefty screwdriver to bump the ignition lock (rubber handle works best). One or two misaligned wafers lodged inside the cylinder often result in a jammed ignition lock cylinder that prevents the lock from spinning. The stuck wafers will probably be released by giving the ignition lock cylinder a few bumps, allowing the ignition lock to turn once more.
If you were able to turn on the ignition lock, don’t turn it off again since you might not be able to turn it on again if it becomes stuck again. Once the ignition lock is in the “on” position, the majority of vehicle ignition lock cylinders are simple to remove and replace. At this point, if you consider yourself a handy person, we advise you to view a few YouTube videos on how to replace the ignition on your year and type of vehicle. If not, you should contact a reputable locksmith to have your ignition lock fixed or replaced.
There are various things you can take to prevent becoming locked out of your automobile, however many of them necessitate planning.
- Make a copy of a mechanical key (a key without a transponder chip) and conceal it somewhere outside the car (for example you can remove the back license plate and use duct tape to tape a mechanical key to the back of the plate and install it back on).
- Give a neighbor or acquaintance a spare key. Typically, it will be less expensive to have the spare key delivered to you or picked up by you than it will be to call a locksmith to come out to your location.
- It is worth a shot if you have On Star service because they can frequently unlock your car remotely. Just give them a ring, and they’ll help you unlock the automobile.
- These days, a lot of aftermarket alarm systems (like Viper and Directed) come with a phone app that you can download to your phone and use to lock and unlock your vehicle.
We advise calling a local locksmith to unlock your automobile if you ever find yourself locked out. Your door’s paint and rubber seal could suffer severe damage if you try to unlock the automobile on your own.
Important vehicle key information can assist you understand how to replace them in the event that they are lost or stolen.
The vast majority of automobile keys can be created on site by a locksmith, although not all of them can (certain keys can only be made by a dealer due to dealer regulations).
Please read some of our other articles after reading this one as well.
What could lock up the ignition switch?
The problem of a locked steering wheel is simple to resolve. Your steering wheel lock is mechanically connected to the ignition. This is done for security purposes in case a thief tries to drive the car without the key.
The steering wheel and ignition key may jam up if a driver switches off their automobile while still turning the wheel or tries to turn the wheel after it has been turned off.
Simply insert your key again, carefully turn it to start the car in that way, and slowly turn the wheel in the only direction it will let you go to free them. The steering wheel will usually unlock as a result.
Can a lockpick be used to start a car?
As a consequence, the host could quickly open the doors of a 2013 BMW 3-Series, a 2018 Nissan Maxima, and a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado. The Lockpicking Lawyer describes how some individuals with no prior lockpicking experience were able to open conventional door locks and padlocks with ease in the movie introducing the Lishi locks.
All of this is incredibly frightening, and it comes to a head when the host opens the lock on his Ford Explorer ST. The lock was quickly and simply picked, just like in the other films. Fortunately, the car’s alarm went off, and the host quickly received word of the break-in via his phone. That’s comforting, although I’m not sure how safe I feel about leaving any valuables in my car these days.
Despite the host’s observation that using these lockpicks would be simple (a blessing if you lock your keys in your car, but a bit of a worry because anyone can easily buy these), they cannot start a car because they lack the necessary chip. I suppose that’s a relief. Please excuse me while I hide my car and remove all of my possessions.