Damaged Ignition Cylinder
Sometimes, a perfectly new key can get stuck in an ignition because the ignition cylinder might be damaged. Usually, it is hard to determine whether or not ignition damage caused the key to get stuck since the key is inside and cannot be removed. If your key breaks in the ignition or comes out broken with a piece of it in the ignition, you might think that the key was the problem. However, that is not always the case. The damage in the cylinder ignition may have caused the key to get stuck or break. In such a situation where it is hard to determine the reason why your key broke or is stuck in the ignition, it is usually best to contact a professional before further damage is done to your vehicle through forceful use.
Another reason why your car key can get stuck in the ignition of a vehicle is because there is build-up of dirt and grime in the ignition cylinder. Many vehicle owners usually tend to overlook the cleaning process and maintenance of ignition cylinders, and that may be why the key does not go in and out smoothly and gets stuck. In such a scenario, lubricate the key and then try to remove it gently.
Something like WD-40 is a great solution, but if you would like some advice on the best lubricant, you can always call your local locksmith. If this works, it means that you have an ignition cylinder that needs to be cleaned out, so make sure to clean it well and maintain it to prevent your key getting stuck in the ignition in the future.
There are a few things you should avoid in such a situation. Do not try to forcefully remove the key from the ignition since that will cause more damage and you might end up having to spend more to rectify a problem that stemmed from a very easily addressed circumstance. Be patient while ruling out various reasons for the stuck key and go through each recommended step carefully. You might find that you were stressed out for no reason and it was just a locked steering wheel or a vehicle that was still technically on that caused the key to get stuck in the ignition of your vehicle.
If you have gone through all of the above recommended solutions and find that none of them have solved your problem, the key or the ignition – or even both – are the problem. In any case, it is ideal to contact a professional and have them take a look so that they can identify the problem quickly.
Contacting someone who knows what they are doing is a safe bet, and no matter what the reason is for the key getting stuck, a qualified locksmith will be able to rectify the problem easily with the least amount of damage to your vehicle, key, and ignition cylinder. A locksmith will also be able to determine whether or not your ignition cylinder needs to be replaced to avoid problems like this in the future.
