You depend on your vehicle every day as you go
about your routine in Elyria, Ohio. Whether it’s driving to work, dropping the
kids off at school, or running seemingly endless errands, your vehicle is an
essential part of your life. That’s why just about anyone gets anxious when
they identify an issue with their vehicle. It doesn’t help that many vehicle
problems require costly repairs and even lengthy downtimes that require us to
make inconvenient alternate plans.
Luckily, problems related to your ignition
cylinder are usually relatively inexpensive and easy to replace by a
professional automotive locksmith, like those from Elyria Star Locksmith.
However, some of them can mimic more serious problems. That’s why it’s crucial
to contact an automotive lock and key professional whenever you suspect a
problem with your vehicle’s ignition system. The longer that a problem is left
to develop, the more severe it may become, and the higher the potential bill
might be in the end. By contacting a professional early on, you’ll be able to
have the problem addressed when it’s still small and relatively simple to
fix.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
Most problems involving your ignition are due to
a part known as the ignition cylinder. This is a housing for your lock that
fits into either the steering column or the dashboard. When you insert your
vehicle key into the ignition lock, a signal is sent through wiring on the back
portion of the ignition cylinder that is connected to the engine and allows it
to start. Defects or damage in any part of this connected system can cause
performance issues with your ignition. A locksmith can assist you in diagnosing
troubles with your ignition, but it’s important for you to know what to look
for to give them the proper information.
The following are common symptoms of car ignition
issues that can help you determine whether you should contact a locksmith
before you jump to calling a mechanic.
1. Difficulty Starting Your Vehicle
One of the first and most troublesome warning
signs that something is amiss with your ignition is difficulty powering on your
vehicle. Usually when this occurs you may immediately jump to the conclusion
that there’s a serious problem with your engine, but that’s not always the
case. Sometimes, it may be a sign of a faulty or failing ignition cylinder. If
you notice your vehicle has a hard time getting started on multiple occasions,
and you’ve checked the battery and had the engine tuned up, it’s worth
considering whether or not the ignition cylinder is at fault.
2. Your Key Frequently Sticks in the Ignition
Most manual ignition locks feature a pin and
tumbler system that is calibrated to correspond with the grooves on your
ignition key. While these keys are designed to be used frequently, over time
the metal can become rounded out, worn down, or bent. This may cause your key
to stick when you insert or try to remove it from the ignition lock. This
problem usually starts out small, but will gradually get worse the longer that
you ignore it and continue to operate your vehicle with the damaged key. While
it may seem like a hassle to have your key replaced, it’s always recommended to
do that before you face a situation where you can’t remove your key from the
ignition cylinder.
3. Your Key Won’t Fit in the Lock
Often a progression of the issue listed
previously, in some circumstances your key may refuse to fit into your ignition
cylinder lock. Usually this occurs after you notice difficulty with getting
your key in and out of the lock on previous occasions, although sometimes it
seems to happen out of the blue. This problem can be due to other causes as
well, including internal damage to the ignition cylinder or an obstruction of
debris in the lock itself. Never try to force your key into the lock, which
will only compound the damage. Instead, contact an automotive
lock professional for assistance.
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