Common Ignition Cylinder Problems and How to Solve Them
Ignition cylinder, or ignition switches, are small, cylinder-shaped devices that help with the operation of one’s vehicle. Most of the ignition cylinder itself is hidden, but the top part of the cylinder is visible. Just to the right of your steering wheel, you know that there is a key slot for your vehicle keys. This slot, and the round disk surrounding it, is actually the top of your vehicle’s ignition cylinder. Embedded in the vehicle paneling is the rest of the cylinder, where it sits safely tucked away.
An ignition cylinder helps with the operation of your vehicle in a couple of ways. It not only helps to keep your key firmly in place while you are driving, it also contains signals that instruct the vehicle when the key is in position, thus allowing you to drive. When there is something off with your vehicle’s ignition cylinder, you may not be able to operate your vehicle or you may experience other issues and concerns. Below you will find some of the most problems that vehicle drivers experience when their ignition cylinders are faulty, as well as how to go about fixing your ignition cylinder as quickly as possible.
Your Vehicle Will Not Start
If you are having trouble starting your vehicle, it is possible that your ignition cylinder could be the source of the problem. You may not be able to turn the ignition cylinder at all, or when you turn the ignition cylinder, nothing happens. This could be due to a wiring issue or displacement of the ignition cylinder itself.
Your Vehicle Runs Fine, but Then Stops or Stalls
Another symptom you may experience is your vehicle stalling or suddenly stopping. While this sort of symptom may seem to point to a larger issue, even something as small as your ignition cylinder can be the source of the problem. It is important to handle any kind of vehicle stall as quickly as possible. This is a dangerous symptom that should not be ignored, since you may put your life or the life of someone else at risk if you were to be out driving and your vehicle suddenly stopped without warning.
Your Key is Stuck in the Cylinder
This is a common problem that can be triggered by the steering wheel locking system. You might try wiggling the wheel back and forth a couple of times to see if you can extract the key. Keys can become stuck in ignition cylinders if there has been persisting issues or bending of the ignition cylinder in some way. One habit that can particularly aggravate ignition cylinder issues is placing heavy keychains on your vehicle’s key ring. The weight of keychains can actually cause damage to your ignition cylinder over time. If you are having any sort of ignition cylinder symptoms, make sure your keys are not heavily weighed down by any excessive or heavy keychains.
You Cannot Insert Your Key
You may also experience being unable to insert your key into the ignition cylinder at all. This can happen if your ignition cylinder is blocked by something or the cylinder has been bent in some way, thus blocking the path of the key. You may not be able to tell just by looking into the cylinder if there is some sort of blockage, since the damage may be deeper within the vehicle. If you do notice something stuck inside the cylinder, it is best to call a professional to have it extracted, rather than attempt to pull it out yourself.
Your Key has Broken Inside of the Cylinder
A final possibility that you may experience is that your key has broken inside of the cylinder. You may take extract your key from the cylinder, only to find that a portion of it is missing and still stuck inside of the cylinder. Or, you may be unable to pull your vehicle key out at all because the key broke inside of the cylinder in such a way that makes it impossible to extract. Whatever the case may be for you, it is best to not try to pull out the key or parts of the key that may still be stuck inside of the cylinder. Trying to force out a broken key could further damage the ignition cylinder or aggravate the problem.
Always Call a Professional!
If you are experiencing any of the problems described above with your ignition cylinder, call an expert immediately. Due to the nature of ignition cylinder problems, it is likely you will not be able to drive your car to a repair shop. In this case, you will need to call a mobile service, such as a mobile locksmith, to come help you.
Mobile locksmiths are a great option if you ever find yourself stuck with a faulty or broken ignition cylinder. Mobile locksmiths perform on-the-go and on-site ignition cylinder repairs for vehicles of all types. A professional locksmith can be by your side ASAP to diagnose the issue, provide skilled repairs, and get you back on the road. Call a local, mobile locksmith in your area the next time you are experiencing problems with your vehicle’s ignition cylinder.
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