Car Key Won’t Turn

In a rather unfortunate turn of events, you head to your car, and your key won't turn on the ignition. Fret not! In this piece, we’ll talk about why your car key won’t turn and how you can fix this issue.

Key Won't Turn On The Ignition

A dysfunctional key not turning the ignition is a real problem; it always seems to happen at inopportune moments. There are various reasons that this could happen, including the key trigger safety features, using a false key, or damaged wafers. 

Safety Feature

Modern-day cars are complex machines; therefore, automakers install many safety features for customers. This safety feature can sometimes malfunction and prevent the car key from turning on the ignition. 

Damaged Wafers

In earlier times, cars used to have a standard lock mechanism and had round cylindrical pins, whereas auto locks today use a wafer-based system. The wafer accommodates the key by splitting down the center when slid in. Ignition wafers can be one or two pieces. The one-piece wafer is susceptible to bending, while a two-piece wafer split in the center might get jammed in the cylinder. Both wafer styles might succumb to wear and tear over time and become damaged. One way to avoid this wear and tear is to avoid turning off the ignition aggressively. 

Yet another tip that might come in handy is to avoid using large, heavy keyrings for your car key. The weight of the key constantly pulls on the wafers, and a light key ring might help extend the life of the ignition wafers. 

Damaged Key

A damaged key can be the culprit in your scenario. Sometimes the edges of the car key get worn out, and the wafers won't align when inserted into the wafers. Over time, the car key’s edges wear down, and it won't turn on the ignition. The crisp and sharp edges of a new key are what you need to get that car up and running. It might be a good idea to get a couple of spare keys. 

A Few Ways To Fix Your Car Key Problem

If you are stuck with this problem, here are a few things you might want to try before you call the locksmith. The items are listed in order of effectiveness down below.

• Check the steering wheel. The car steering is fitted with a safety feature that locks it once the key is removed. Sometimes, if you are rather unlucky, the steering wheel gets stuck in that position, which locks the car's ignition. You can give the steering wheel a few jerks and check if the key turns on the ignition. If this works, you have just saved a few bucks on that repair. 
• Check the gear. The automatic transmission cars of today do not allow the key to turn on the ignition if the vehicle is not in neutral gear or park. It might be that your gear shift is not in the correct position, causing the ignition to malfunction. Just whack the gear shift, put it into place and then try turning that key again. 
• Check the battery. If you have a volt meter in your car kit, you can check if the car battery is still working. The advanced ignition system in new cars stops the car from turning on if the battery is dead. Either way, recharging and replacing the car key battery might work for you. 

If these help you fix the issue with your ignition, you dodged a bullet, and you should get your car to a mechanic or a locksmith and check for the underlying problem and fix it. Here are some more fixes if the problem is related to the ignition and the key. 

• Take that spare key out. The current key you use might be worn out, and taking that spare key out might fix the issue. If the spare key doesn't work, it is possibly an ignition issue.
• Try a cleaning spray. Some dirt and debris between the wafers might obstruct the key from turning the ignition. A silicon-based spray might help you clean it and back it up and running again. 
• Shake things up. Try and wiggle the key in the lock but do it gently. Sometimes, there is minor damage; jamming due to debris or dirt and wiggling them might free them up enough to turn the ignition. In this case, do not remove the key before you reach the locksmith. 
• Give it a whack. This is your last resort after trying all the above ways to fix the dysfunctional ignition. 

Summary

There are various reasons why your car key might not turn on your ignition, but there aren’t many ways to solve this issue. Make sure you’re diligent: you can spot warning signs early on and avoid such scenarios altogether. Pro tip: always keep a spare copy of the key and take your car for regular maintenance sessions. 

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