Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Shawn Fago. Shawn Fago is a Master Locksmith and the Founder of Noble Locksmith, a nationwide locksmith company based in San Diego, California. With over seven years of experience, he provides commercial, residential, and automotive locksmith services to customers. Shawn attended California State University, Fullerton.
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Have you ever broken a key? It does happen all too often, and sometimes happens right in the ignition lock of your car! Luckily, you can usually get the broken pieces out without calling a locksmith.
Steps
Clear away any obstructions in the ignition lock. Remove any debris from that might be blocking the key fragment with compressed air. Do not spray cleaners or lubricants into the ignition lock as these chemicals may damage the lock. This is especially true for newer vehicles with added features.
Place the place entire key back into the lock. This will serve as a guide to help you reach the broken piece of the key.Advertisement
Slide a thin, stiff wire along the sides the broken key. Paperclips make a good wire. You can straighten them out so that they will slide alongside the key into the lock. Sometimes it is best to bend the ends just slightly to help with grasping the key fragment.
Remove the head of the broken key from the ignition switch. Be careful not to pull your wire out with the key handle. You want to keep it in place on the broken piece of key still in your ignition.
Grip the broken piece of key between the wires. It may help to twist the wires around each other to secure a good grip. You may also be able to use them in a similar fashion to chopsticks or tweezers.[1]- You can also try bending the ends downward so that the wire has more surface area in contact with the key fragment. This may help you grasp the fragment and pull it out.
Pull the broken piece out. While you are pulling out, shaking up and down slightly may reduce the risk of getting the broken piece lodged.[2]
Use long, thin needle nose pliers to spread the key opening. Insert the tip of the pliers into the keyhole and then open them to spread the keyhole opening. There is no need to do this unless the broken piece of key is stuck, as it can damage your ignition lock/keyhole. Opening the keyhole will provide a clear path for removing the piece.
Grab the broken piece of the key with the pliers. Once you have opened the keyhole, slide the pliers as far as you can into the lock and attempt to grasp the key fragment with them. If the pliers will not fit far enough into the opening to grasp they key then you can attempt to use wire or tweezers.
Pull the broken piece of key out of the opening. Once you have a hold of the broken piece of key, pull it straight out of the opening. Now you can use a spare or have a new key cut.
Identify a lock locksmith. You can look in a phone book or online to find a lock smith in your area. You can also use websites designed to match you with a locksmith in your area.
Call more than one locksmith. Locksmiths are often available at all hours without additional charge, and will quote you a price over the phone. Calling more than one locksmith can get you a better price. Be sure to ask the locksmith if they offer services for cars, as some may not.
Hire your locksmith of choice. Once you have decided which company you would like to use, call them back and ask them to come service your vehicle.[3]
Replace your key. Regardless of what method you used to get the key out of the ignition lock, it is now broken. You will need to use a spare key or buy a replacement.
Community Q&A
- QuestionMy key is broken, sometimes I can start the car, sometimes not. Why is that?
Glenn LetteerCommunity AnswerBecause the tip of the key is being forced further down inside of your ignition past the next wafer. You will be stranded soon. Call a locksmith. - QuestionDo you have any other suggestions if the ones in the article don't work for me?
Community AnswerAs a master locksmith with 23 years working on automotive keys, I can tell you the techniques listed above will most push the broken portion of your key much deeper into the ignition, causing the expense to be greater. My general rules of thumb are as follows: If you can touch the broken portion with your finger, there is a possibility you can remove it on your own. If you can see the broken portion but can't touch it, you will not be able to remove it on your own (but a locksmith can easily remove it using specialized tools). If you can't see or touch the broken key portion, the ignition likely must be removed for extraction. - QuestionHow do I replace the ignition switch on a Kubota M4900 tractor?Glenn LetteerCommunity AnswerReach back behind the ignition under the dash, you will feel a ring. Turn the ring with a pair of pliers or a wrench until the ring is completely loose. Remove the wires connected to the back of the ignition, then pull the ignition forward through the hole.
Tips
- Flushing the lock with lubricant will help by cleaning out all of the old dirt, grease, and metal dust that cause binding and friction of the parts.Thanks
Warnings
- Do not use super glue around locks, if the glue gets onto the small lock parts or tumblers it will ruin the lock.Thanks
References
About This Article
To remove a broken key from an ignition lock, don’t spray cleaners or lubricants into the lock, since this can damage it. Instead, spray compressed air into it to clear any debris. Then, put the broken key back in to help you reach the broken piece. With the key in the lock, slide a thin, stiff wire, like a straightened paperclip, along both sides of the key. Once you’ve pushed the wire in, remove the head of the broken key while leaving the wire in the lock. When you’ve removed the head, try to grip the broken piece with the ends of the wire, like you'd use tweezers or chopsticks. It might help to bend the ends of the wire downward so they have more surface area to grip the key fragment with. If you can’t remove it using this method, you’ll need to call a local locksmith. For more tips, including how to open the lock with pliers to get your broken key out, read on!
Reader Success Stories
"It gave me the idea, I used a hair clip cut it in half then bent the bottom in a little. I threaded it down the one side of the the key until I was able to hook one side of the key. I then gently levered it out. So happy!"..." more
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