Car Key Extraction
If your car key has broken off in the lock or ignition don’t worry, we offer car key extraction services. We can also cut & program car keys on the spot!
Car Key Extraction Service Affordable Texas Wide Service
- Did your car key get stuck in your car ignition?
- Is the key stuck in the car door?
In either case, our locksmiths can remove the key without damaging any of the devices. Remember, if your key is stuck, don’t try to extract it with any sharp tools like a coat hanger — as you’ll just damage the car door or the ignition.
Why Do Car Keys Get Stuck In The Ignition Or Door?
Unfortunately, car door locks do not last forever. And neither do the keys. Over time and continual use, car door locking mechanisms wear down. The smaller fraction of an inch changes can eventually make the door lock cylinder no longer match the profile of the key.
Or, vice versa, the metal key head may wear down in such a way that it no longer matches the door lock aligning profile. In both cases, the result is that the key will jam in the lock.
Warning Signs That Your Car Key Is Going To Break Or Get Stuck
Below are some warning signs that your car door lock may be on the brink of jamming. Indeed, it’s better to perform maintenance on your vehicle and preventative service, than to deal with an emergency.
- Car Key sticks or is stiff in the lock
- The door lock is rough or difficult to turn
- The door lock catches as you turn the key
If customers search for the right Automotive Houston Locksmith Services then they will help you. They will be able to come and look at your vehicle whenever you need them. Night or day, rain, sleet or shine. Somebody will be there to assist you and get you back into that vehicle as quickly as they can. Professional locksmiths will be able to deal with the problem in minutes most of the time.
Why Do Car Keys Break?
Most car keys are not lemons. In other words, they work well for a long time for a number of reasons. First of all, because they are made well. Indeed, laser-cut car keys these days can function well for decades. Second of all the door lock and the ignition that the key goes into are precision made as well. When the car door and the ignition fit the key well, there is less wear and tear on the key.
However, everyday use can wear down the profile of a metal key. Especially damaging to metal car keys is forcing the key in the lock when you are in a hurry. Although this may not seem like a big deal while you’re doing it, over time forcing the key in the door erodes the key’s profile and damages the cylinder of the lock. In addition, the environment can have a big impact on the lifespan of the key. Especially for towns in Houston closer to the bay, such as Galveston and Baytown, the salty humidity of the environment negatively affects the key and the locks of the car. Although most cars are rust-proof these days, nonetheless wind, sediment, and other debris can get caught in the door lock, which will rub against the key. All of this grit in the door lock will make the key weak.
If you start experiencing any type of hard to turn, or difficulty with a car door lock or vehicle ignition you should have one of our professional locksmiths service it right away! Because a broken key or stuck key will generally take more time and money in the long run vs us making a spare and lubricating the wafers or pins in the lock.
Call us today and we arrive today!
Broken Transponder Car Keys
For transponder keys and other programmable keys, there are additional reasons why these digital keys will break. The main reason is that the battery fails. Usually, a battery on a car key will blink red or emit a beeping signal. If you see a blinking light on your key or hear the key beeping, then you should get the car key battery replaced as soon as possible. In fact, here’s a helpful tip: all car dealerships will replace a failing car key battery for $5-$7. No problem.
Another major factor that causes keys to break is drastic changes in the weather. Since car keys are metal, they are subject to stresses the environmental causes. Sudden freezing weather in Houston, when the day before the temperature was mild or even hot, can causes expansion and contraction stresses to the metals in the car key, the car door, and the ignition switch. Changes in the size of all of these devices can cause the key to break, especially if you continue to force the key.
Unfortunately, the most common time a key breaks is when you’re in a hurry. Why? Because that’s when you’re most likely to force the key, and to use more force than is necessary. Indeed, the emotions of the driver play a big role in causing weak keys to break.
How Do You Remove A Stuck Key In A Car Door Or Ignition?
There are two main ways a locksmith will extract a key from a door lock or an ignition. The first main way is through a broken key extraction tool. The locksmith will first lubricate the lock and the broken shaft of the key that is still in the lock. Lubricating the lock helps the locksmith pull the key out without damaging the lock. The broken key extraction tool inserts into the lock catch onto the broken shaft of the key and pulls it out of the lock.
The other main way a locksmith might remove the broken key from the lock is through a broken key extraction kit. This kit comes with several tools, each of which is important to retrieve the key. These tools include specialty scissors, a hemostat, pliers, and a key extractor.
Unlike the broken key extraction kit, these tools can only work with a spare copy of the car key, or another one that is similar enough to fit into the lock. The locksmith guides the extractors very carefully into the lock. The danger is that while the locksmith is moving the extractors into place, they will unintentionally push the broken key bits farther down into the lock. Once the extractors are in place, they wind carefully around the broken lock pieces and are then pulled out. All of this work is like surgery and must be done carefully, deliberately, and slowly. Otherwise, the action to remove the key may press the key pieces down farther.
Customers often want to know whether they will have to replace the ignition because of damage from the broken key. This decision will change case by case. Until the locksmith sees the damage from the key car, there’s no way to say for certain whether the ignition is damaged as well. The main factor in whether the ignition is damaged is how deep into the slot the broken key pieces are, and whether the key pieces can be removed safely, without further damaging the ignition.
Your Professional Car Key Extraction Locksmiths
Getting into a car that has damaged locks or stuck keys is quite a large task. It gets more difficult every single year as locking technology gets better. The right Automotive Houston Car Key Extraction Services provider will be able to tackle the job.
If you wish to find out more about the Car Key Extraction Houston Locksmith Services that we offer, call us. It is our intention to help you get back into your vehicle in the quickest and safest possible manner.
OUR CAR AND AUTOMOTIVE LOCKSMITHS ARE FULLY LICENSED AND INSURED
Alamo Key & Lock Car Key Extraction Locksmiths in Houston TX are fully Licensed, Bonded, and Insured to make sure we provide quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service when it comes to your Car Key Extraction Locksmith needs.
