1. Describe the symptom
Year, make, model, and exactly what the key does or doesn't do. I'll tell you what it probably is and quote for that.
Automotive › Ignition repair
Ignition Repair and Replacement — At Your Vehicle, Keyed to Your Key
Key won't go in. Key goes in but won't turn. Turns, but nothing happens. Or it's so worn that any key wiggles it. I diagnose it at the car, repair the cylinder where it can be saved, replace it where it can't — and key the new one to the key you already carry.
(559) 862-5852Open 24 hours · License #LCO6853 · No tow needed
Symptoms
What a failing ignition feels like
Ignition cylinders wear out. Every turn of the key, every heavy keyring, every winter of jamming it in cold — the wafers inside get worn, the springs get tired, and one day it stops.
The key won't turn at all
First check the steering lock — turn the wheel gently while turning the key. If that's not it, the cylinder's wafers may be jammed or worn. Don't force it; a snapped key in the ignition is a bigger job.
The key turns but the car won't start
Could be the ignition switch behind the cylinder, the transponder chip in the key, or the immobilizer. I test all three at the car before replacing anything, so you're not paying for a part you didn't need.
Any key turns it, or it turns without a key
That's a cylinder worn past the point of security. It'll fail completely soon, and in the meantime anyone with a screwdriver can start your car. Replace it.
The key comes out while the engine's running
Worn cylinder or a broken retaining mechanism. Annoying now, a lockout later when the key won't go back in. Usually a straightforward replacement.
The key snapped off in the ignition
I extract the broken piece without damaging the cylinder, then cut a new key from the remaining half or to the manufacturer's code.
How it works
Diagnose, then fix only what's broken
2. Test at the vehicle
Key, chip, cylinder, switch. I confirm which part has failed before anything comes apart, and I tell you if the diagnosis changes the price.
3. Repair or replace, keyed to your key
Worn wafers replaced where the cylinder is sound; a new cylinder fitted where it isn't — pinned to your existing key wherever the vehicle allows.
Why a locksmith
The dealership replaces the whole thing. I fix the part that failed.
A dealership will typically replace the entire ignition assembly and give you a new key that doesn't match your doors. I pull the cylinder, replace the worn wafers or fit a new cylinder, and key it to the key already on your ring. One key, one visit, no tow, and usually a fraction of the cost.
- Repair first, replace only when necessary
- New cylinder keyed to your existing key wherever the vehicle allows
- Broken keys extracted without drilling the cylinder
- Ignition switches and steering lock issues handled at the same visit
Ignition questions
What people ask
My key turns but the car won't start. Is that the ignition?
Sometimes. It can also be the transponder chip, the immobilizer, or something electrical. I test the key, the chip and the cylinder at the vehicle and tell you which it is before replacing anything.
Will I need a new key after an ignition replacement?
Not usually. Where possible I rekey the new cylinder to your existing key so one key still does everything. If that's not possible on your vehicle I'll say so before I start.
Can you do this where the car is parked?
Yes. Ignition work is done at the vehicle — driveway, workplace, side of the road. No tow.
Is it worth fixing on an older car?
Almost always — an ignition repair is far cheaper than the car, and a worn cylinder is a theft risk as well as a breakdown waiting to happen. I'll give you a straight number on the phone so you can decide.