Car Ignition Cylinder Problems and Solutions
Do you know what your car’s ignition cylinder is? Even if you are not completely familiar with the name, if you own and drive a car, then you use an ignition cylinder every time you operate your vehicle. Ignition cylinders are small, cylindrical devices that sit in your vehicle’s front paneling next to your steering wheel. The top part of the ignition cylinder is visible on the right-hand side of one’s steering wheel and is the opening where you enter your car key to start your vehicle. The rest of the cylinder sits tucked away, remaining securely in place while your vehicle is in motion.
Ignition cylinders help your vehicle to operate properly by not only recognizing when your car key is in the ignition slot, but also by helping hold the key in place while you are driving. Without a properly working ignition cylinder, you may not be able to drive your car or may experience other issues. If you are currently experiencing issues with your vehicle’s ignition cylinder and need some guidance as to what you should do next, keep reading to learn more about issues that can occur with ignition cylinders and how you can get yours fixed or replaced easily.
Problems that Can Occur
Typical Wear and Tear
Ignition cylinders are not invincible and may cause problems for vehicle drivers at some point or another. Wear and tear are common when it comes to ignition cylinders, especially when you consider how often these cylinders are actually used. Every time you insert your key into the ignition cylinder slot, start and drive your car, and release your key from the slot, your ignition cylinder is being used. Since you may insert and extract your car key multiple times from the cylinder per day, it makes sense that over time one’s cylinder might simply wear out.
Since wear and tear are the most common reasons why ignition cylinders may stop working properly, it is safe to say that there is usually not anything specific vehicle drivers do to cause the problem in the first place. If something is wrong with your cylinder, it is likely you can chalk it up to aging or worn materials, rather than something you may have done to cause the problem.
Bent Ignition Cylinder
If you have been in a car accident or even a minor fender-bender recently, it is possible that internal damage occurred to your vehicle that you are not aware of. Especially if you are having trouble inserting or taking your car key out in the first place, then it is possible that the ignition cylinder has been bent in some way. Any kind of dent in the cylinder may make is difficult to properly fit your key into the slot. You may also not be able to turn your key because of how the ignition cylinder is bent.
Product Recall
Other kinds of issues with the ignition cylinder may involve the recall of faulty materials. As you know, vehicle makers have to recall car parts from time-to-time and ignition cylinders are no exception. If you are experiencing issues with your cylinder, it is worth checking if any recalls have been announced for your ignition cylinder or other parts in your vehicle that may be impacting your cylinder.
The Solution to Ignition Cylinder Problems
For any of the issues listed above that you may be experiencing with your ignition cylinder, you are going to want to hire an expert. Unfortunately, even though ignition cylinders are small and may seem easy to replace, they are complicated to reach and replace if you do not have prior experience. This is why you should always hire a professional to help you if you know for sure or suspect that your ignition cylinder is the source of your vehicle trouble.
A locksmith, in particular, will be the best expert to call on if you need any kind of replacement or repair made to your ignition cylinder. Locksmiths are trained lock and key experts that can easily get to ignition cylinders and replace them without customers having to worry about any additional damage to their car’s paneling or other parts. Any individual that receives a locksmithing certification has been trained to work with lock and key types seen on all vehicle makes and models. So no matter what kind of car you drive, know that a locksmith can help you make the switch to a new ignition cylinder quickly and easily.
Also, be sure to look for a mobile locksmith if you do, in fact, hire a locksmith to help you. Mobile locksmiths are certified locksmiths that travel from location to location in order to service various on-site requests. If you are unable to drive your vehicle in order to have the ignition cylinder replaced, you can call a mobile locksmith and have them drive to you instead.
Call a Locksmith Today!
Relying on an experienced locksmith when it comes to repairing or replacing your ignition cylinder is a wise choice. Remember, ignition cylinders are tricky to replace. It is highly unlikely that one could simply watch a video tutorial or read instructions online as to how to replace the cylinder and actually do so effectively. Professional locksmiths receive on-the-job training in order to learn how to replace ignition cylinders and other vehicle lock and key parts, so be sure to take advantage of their services the next time you need a vehicle locksmithing replacement.