Lost Ignition Key? Here’s What to Do
It is important to check every place you might have seen your ignition key. Follow your steps and try to recall what you were doing the last time you were able to remember seeing the keys.
Replacing an old-fashioned car key is easy and cost-effective. A locksmith can make an entirely new car key without the original. However, a more technologically advanced key, such as a transponder, switchblade, or smart key will require assistance from a roadside to replace.
1. Check the ignition
There are several reasons why your car key won’t engage in the ignition. The first is that it may be worn. As time passes the pins in the cylinder may wear out and prevent it from turning. This is the main reason that people are unable to start their vehicles.
Another possibility is that the key fob is a dead battery and needs to be replaced. This is a straightforward fix that you can do at home. Just purchase a new battery for your key fob and see whether it works in your car.
It could be that your ignition switch is suffering from a fault. The ignition switch is an electrical device that provides power to specific components when you insert your car ignition switch keys into the ignition lock repair services cylinder. It is important to know that the ignition switch will not start the car; it only allows the engine to be started.
If you have a standard ignition key with a metal shaft that is fitted into a head made of plastic, or cylinder, in your vehicle’s ignition. When you turn the key into your ignition, it presses a set of tumblers into a precise arrangement and closes an ignition circuit, which will then supply power to the starter motor to start the engine.
Modern cars use an electronic chip embedded in the key head to prevent car theft. Keys with transponders are commonly called transponder keys. When you insert a lock equipped with a transponder inside the ignition, it sends an identification code to the car’s antenna ring. This unique code will activate the engine’s computer and allow the starter motor to rotate.
If your car has transponder technology, you will not be able to start it when the battery in the key fob fails. This is why it’s always a good idea to keep a spare key with you, just in the event of a problem! However, the majority of auto makers build in a failsafe to help get your car started if the key with the chip is lost.
2. Check the Locks
Car keys are usually lost when you’re in a rush or doing something that demands your attention. If you’re not careful, they are easily lost and cause stress. There are steps you can take to get from anxiety and panic back to your keys.
You might think that keys like the old-fashioned ones are an old fashion thing, but they’re still available to purchase from your auto dealership or from an automotive locksmith. They are the standard keys that secure your ignition and door, and also start the engine when turned. You can also use them to unlock a trunk or glove box. Traditional keys are typically the most affordable to replace and your local locksmith should be able cut a key while you wait.
Key fobs were first introduced in the ’90s and are made of made of plastic with buttons that can lock and unlock your car (and in certain cases activate the alarm or open the trunk). Some of these devices come with physical keys tucked inside. Your local automotive locksmith can reprogram fobs, but only after adding a new transmitter and transponder chip to the key.
We’ve all been guilty of putting our keys in the wrong place when we’re in a rush or distracted. If you were in a taxi or another ride-sharing services, like Uber or Lyft you could not have been a big issue if they were left in your seat. If you are unable to locate them at home or at work it could put your family’s belongings and personal belongings in danger.
Try your spare key first. It could be in your bag or house. It’s worth a quick look. Also, consider returning to the place you left the vehicle to the home or work place.
Another alternative is to run your VIN number through the key database. If your locks have already been rekeyed or replaced, running your VIN through the key database won’t produce a key that will work. Guardian Safe & Lock recommends that the replacement locks for automotive be re-keyed to match the original key cut whenever it is possible.
3. Check the door locks
If you’re experiencing difficulty getting your car to start, it may be an issue with the door locks. They could be open or locked with the key inside. If you’ve lost your car keys, you should have a backup key that came with the vehicle. These keys can be found in the key fob, or as backup keys that you can use to open your vehicle. You can also try a tool such as a Slim Jim to gain entry into your car without causing damage to the locks on your doors or ignition switch.
If the key fob is working, but it won’t turn the ignition, this could be due to the fact that the battery has died. You’ll need to replace batteries in the keyfob and reprogramme the device, if necessary.
Over time, car key edges wear out and break off in the ignition cylinder or lock. The wafers on the key might not be engaged properly making it difficult to turn the ignition.
The car key can sometimes turn on or off when it is in the ignition. The internal components of the ignition switch are deteriorating, leading to intermittent problems.
When people try to start their car, they often grab the wrong key by mistake from their key ring or table. This can lead to problems since keys that look identical and you might be putting the wrong key into the ignition cylinder.
You can fix this problem at home with a simple cotton Swab that is dipped into ruby alcohol. This will remove any foreign material from the surface of the key that can stop it from turning the ignition or unlocking the doors.
If you are still having trouble, write down your VIN number (vehicle ID number) before you call a locksmith. This will increase your chance of finding someone who can assist you in replacing your car keys. You can locate your VIN on your insurance card. It’s also on a panel located above the driver’s chair, on the back of the engine block or in the trunk or on the door jamb.
4. Contact a locksmith
It’s a nightmare to be locked out of your car ignition replacement, especially at the dark. If you aren’t sure where your keys are or if they’ve been lost or stolen, it is best to call a locksmith.
Locksmiths are professional contractor with specialized knowledge in all aspects of locks and access to. They are certified in the installation of, removal, repair, and disassembly ignition cylinders and doors.
Most people who find themselves in this situation try to save money and call their dealership to get an upgrade. This is typically an unwise choice. The majority of dealerships will charge more than other shops or parts stores, and it could take a while to get your keys.
Luckily, you can also locate locksmiths in times of need and ask them to unlock your lock or make a new one for you. If you have a spare key the locksmith will probably only require it to decode the lock, so they can make a new key that can work with your vehicle. The locksmith will take out the old key and then program the new one to start the vehicle.
The locksmith must enter your vehicle to reset the computer in the car to accept the new key. This procedure is referred to as “key fob replacement” or “all keys lost”.
The majority of cars today include transponder keys that utilize tiny plastic heads with a computer chip to communicate with the car’s immobilizer. The chip can be damaged due to heat, water or battery problems or any other reason. If this happens, you will have to replace the entire key, and the computer in your vehicle needs to be reprogrammed to accept it. A reliable locksmith mobile will be able to do this for you and make an appropriate key that will function well in the future.