Discovering that your car key has snapped in the lock, that your vehicle door has been hit by another car, or that you can’t get the lock to turn at all can be stressful, but these are all scenarios that a car lock repair service from the Eydens Auto Locksmiths team can solve.
Whether we need to look at a car door lock replacement to switch out a lock that has been damaged beyond repair, remove stuck keys or fix issues with faulty electronic fobs, there is always a resolution.
Let’s run through what you should do once you notice that your car key isn’t working or if you spot that the lock is damaged, and some of the services we might recommend to get you back on the road as quickly as possible.
Common Problems Drivers Experience With Car Keys and Locks
There are numerous potential reasons you might be having issues with your door lock, but the best advice is to consult a professional locksmith specialising in automotive keys. That’s because trying to force a broken lock could cause further damage, and it might be a simple case of removing a broken car key from the locking mechanism.
Here are just a few of the circumstances where we receive emergency callouts to help a customer unlock their vehicle or van:
- The lock has become stuck or jammed. This is more likely if you have an older car, as locks can jam if there is rust, corrosion, or debris inside. However, stuck locks can also be caused by electrical malfunctions and breakages you can’t see from the outside.
- Your car keys have stuck or snapped in the door lock, which can happen if the key is damaged, the lock hasn’t been maintained, or you’ve tried to force a stuck lock.
- The central locking system is malfunctioning, which could mean an electronic key fob, manual key, or ignition isn’t working correctly.
- Your car or van has been involved in an accident, prang, or collision. Any knocks, impacts, or damage to the door can also affect the lock. Our suggestions will depend on whether the door panel itself needs replacing, but we can also replace a broken barrel if the damage has caused the lock to become misaligned.
Most cars have security systems in place that mean trying to bypass the door lock, prying open a window or sunroof, or trying to ‘jimmy’ the lock is hugely inadvisable and could cause problems if you’re hoping to claim against your insurance to cover the cost of the damage.
Auto locksmiths can often be with you promptly when you have an emergency and ensure you gain access to your vehicle swiftly, safely and without putting yourself at risk of injury.
Extracting Broken or Stuck Keys From Your Car Door
If you’ve tried to unlock your car and felt the key snag, snap or break, the first step is not to panic! As we’ve touched on, it’s always better to consult a professional because DIY efforts to extract the key can cause more damage, whereas this is a straightforward task for an experienced auto locksmith.
The exact process will depend on where on the key the break has occurred and how far inside the locking mechanism the key is stuck, but we might:
- Apply a lubricant to allow for smoother extraction, especially if there is rust or corrosion within the lock.
- Use a specialised broken key extraction tool or blade to grasp the key first and remove it without damaging or scratching other components.
- Drill out the lock if the damage is more serious or if the lock itself has become impaired, removing the lock cylinder and the broken key.
Rest assured that we can install a new lock cylinder there and then, in most cases, or produce spare car keys to replace the broken one. We can either cut you a new set of keys to ensure other spares still work, or recommend a replacement lock that will match your existing keys.
Replacing a Faulty Lock Cylinder on Your Car Door
It’s very common to need to replace the car door lock when it’s been damaged, especially if that’s down to being hit by another car. When the door caves in or is dented, it’s likely that the impact will have at least disrupted the lock cylinder, if not crushed it.
The quickest solution is to remove the old cylinder completely, release the fixing bolts, and then install the new barrel, testing it to ensure it functions smoothly with your existing keys. We can also re-key the barrel to match your current sets of car keys, as above.
Consulting an experienced auto locksmith is always wise. In some cases, we find that the old cylinder isn’t damaged beyond repair, avoiding unnecessary replacements.
Solving Faulty Keys or Ignition Panels With an Auto Locksmith Callout
If you’ve been able to get into your vehicle but cannot start the engine, either because the ignition is jammed, the key has snapped within the internal ignition barrel, or there is a problem with the central locking system, we can assist.
During this type of callout, we’ll start by diagnosing the underlying issue, which helps us pinpoint where the fault, damage, or responsible electrical connection is. This is particularly true for more modern vehicles, which can suffer from ignition problems for a wide range of reasons.
Dismantling the steering column should only be performed by a professional, as it involves the disconnection of electrical components and, of course, reassembling the steering column once the ignition barrel has been fixed or replaced.
Information to Provide When Calling the Eydens Auto Locksmith Team for a Car Door Lock Repair
Should any of these situations sound familiar or you’ve just run a search to find out what to do when your car door lock is damaged, please contact Eydens Auto Locksmiths right away.
We’ll ask for your current location, with a postcode if possible, the make and model of your vehicle, your registration number and the best contact number if we need to call you back. We can then deploy the nearest or fastest available auto locksmith to you, bringing a full set of mobile equipment to enable them to fix your lock, replace your key, or repair the damage.
It’s also a great idea to give us a call if you’ve noticed that your cars get stuck in the lock or ignition every now and then, and you have to exert more pressure over time to get the key to turn. This is an indication that there may be some damage or buildup of rust that we can fix, well before you find yourself with a broken lock!
