Posted by Bryan Thomas on Feb 2, 2016
Losing or having a malfunctioning car key can be an incredibly stressful experience. You literally feel immobilized even as you have an important trip to make. Like the best things in life, you realize its worth only when it’s gone. But what could you possibly do to get your car keys back once you have lost it?
Remember, a lost car key is not just an inconvenience but also a security threat. Someone else might be in possession of your car key and might leave you without your car if you do not take adequate steps to have your car key replaced. But how does some one get his or her car key replaced after having misplaced the same? Read on to find out that losing your car key should not necessarily leave you stressed. Armed with the right information, you will learn that replacing your car keys is a breeze.
Choosing a locksmith to replace your car keys
The first step should be find out whether you have any car insurance coverage for the lost key. Typically, a car insurance does not provide for lost keys and the individual will have to pay out of his or her pocket. If, like most Americans, you car insurance does not provide for lost keys, then you have to determine if you want to have your key replaced by a dealership or an auto locksmith.
Remember, having your car keys replaced from a dealership is an expensive proposition. It is not uncommon to be charged $200 for the whole exercise which includes cutting your car key as well as programming it. If your car is newer or a luxury model then expect this bill to shoot up to as high as $500. If this sounds too high a price to you, as it does to us, then there is a cheaper and equally effective option. Buy them from a reputed local auto locksmith.
Choosing a local locksmith to replace your car key is an economical and safe option when it comes to replacing your car keys. The local locksmith would do the exact same thing as the dealership when it comes to replacing the car keys except charging significantly less.
Resources:
www.sunlakeslocksmith.com
Angieslist.com
www.locksmiths-search.com
How to choose the right locksmith?
As mentioned above, being locked out of your car is not only not fun, but also a huge safety risk. It makes sense, therefore, that you do your proper homework and diligence check before hiring a locksmith. For example, an auto locksmith would require your vehicle’s make, its vehicle identification number, and the model in order to program the chip in the replacement key. However, this is sensitive information and handing out such details to unscrupulous operators might risk the safety of your car itself.
In particular, you should check for the following when choosing your locksmith.
1) Licenses and industry accreditation: One of the first thing you should make sure is that your locksmith has all the right and current licenses to ply his or her trade. Making sure that your locksmith has all the necessary certification and licenses in place means that you insure yourself against fly by night and unscrupulous operators who are only in it to make a quick buck.
2) Look for experience: Besides all the licenses and certification, you would want your locksmith to have adequate industry experience. Ask them about their experience in the industry so that you get an exemplary standard of service and care.
3) Check their reviews: Websites such as Angies List and other review websites should provide you a good clue about the quality of service provided by a locksmith. Ask their previous customers about their experience with a particular locksmith so that you know what you would be getting for your money.
4) Availability: It is often the case that you lose your car keys at the worst possible time when there is no help available on hand. This is where a locksmith who can make himself available at a short notice is so immensely valuable. Choose a locksmith who is both reliable and ready to provide help at all hours.
5) Fair pricing: Let us face it. A lot of us who have lost our car keys find ourselves in a desperate situation with a diminished power of negotiation. A lot of locksmiths take benefit of such a situation by charging unreasonably high prices. On the other hand, a reliable and experienced locksmith would offer you an upfront and transparent pricing. Choose a locksmith who is consistent, honest and fair in his prices.
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Posted by Bryan Thomas on Feb 1, 2016
Have your car keys been stuck in the ignition when in a hurry? I bet it’s very stressful. You can’t leave the keys in the ignition as there is a high risk that someone can steal your car. If this happens to you next time, you shouldn’t worry. Here are some of the things that you can do to remove the stuck key, brought to us by the guys at AZ Ignition Repair:
Check the position of the key
Many people make the mistake of turning the key too far in the “off position” which gets it stuck. Before you do anything you should ensure that the key is in the correct “off position.” Always remember that if you can play the radio, the key is in the wrong position. If you have an automatic car, you should ensure that it’s in the “park” position.
Wiggle the steering wheel
If the key is in the correct position and the car is in the park position, you should wiggle the steering wheel back and forth while trying to pull the key out. When doing this, you should ensure that you are gentle to avoid breaking the ignition.
Jack up the front of the car
The aim of this is to take the weight of the car off the front wheels. Jacking up also gives the steering column more room to move. While the car is still jacked up, you should wiggle the steering wheel and try to pull the key out.
Use a bobby pin
If you have tried the above options and none works, you should use a bobby pin to remove the small cap that covers the access port of the ignition lock.
Use ice
The idea of using ice is to get the key to contract. You should fill a zip-type sandwich bag half full with ice. If the cubes are too large, you should crush them. You should then wrap the bag around the head of the key then wait for about 15 minutes. After this, you should try to wiggle the key out.
Steps to get your car key out from an ignition
1.Before taking a stab at anything, watch that you’re stopping brake is on. You would prefer not to roll away while you’re excessively centered around getting the way to turning!
2. Apply weight to the key and turn the controlling wheel forward and backward to endeavor to locate a free spot where the key turns. An exceptionally basic explanation behind the key not turning in current autos is that the controlling section lock can be stuck a dilemma. At the point when this happens, you’ll have to apply weight on the ignition component and hold on until it opens. For those with a comical inclination, this is frequently called “the controlling wheel shake.”
3 . On the off chance that you have a programmed transmission, check and ensure the selector is in the Park. A few autos will avert you turning the key if the selector is in any position other than park or nonpartisan; it can be not entirely obvious this when tired or in a rush.
4 . Clean and grease up the lock barrel. Splash a liberal measure of electrical contact cleaner to flush away soil and grime, trailed by a brisk shower of silicone or a drop or two of fluid graphite to grease up. Be mindful so as not to permit it to trickle on upholstery or floor covering. Keep the auto open to anticipate aggregation of exhaust, and maintain a strategic distance from sparkles and open blazes. Once you’ve sufficiently included grease, attempt once more.
5 . On some lock barrels, a tumbler might tie in a bolted position, and the springs can’t push it pull out. Immovably tapping the substance of the lock chamber can discharge the stuck tumbler. A tack sledge is about the ideal size and weight for most key barrels.
7 . Tap the key. Tap the end of the key, while in the ignition, with a mallet or hard question while endeavoring to turn the key. Cautioning, keep an eye out for your fingers.
These are some of the ways of removing a key that has stuck in the ignition. If you have tried all of the options and the key is still stuck, you should consider getting the help of a professional. The good side is that there are locksmiths everywhere. For fast response, you should find a professional who is within your area.
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Posted by Bryan Thomas on Dec 21, 2015
Car door locks are quite intimidating; with today’s anti-theft devices re-keying car door services are better off being done by professionals. Even though re-keying of car lock services are done perfectly by professionals, it’s possible to do it yourself provided that you are patient and careful apart from having proper tools.
If you own a car, a need will always arise regarding re-keying of car door locks. For example, if your keys get lost or get stolen, you must never take chances and duplicate a key. Its always risky having your key floating somewhere in an unknown location. Furthermore, the thief who stole the key might be around and may steal your car anytime using the copy of your car key.
It’s for the reasons mentioned above that you must train yourself on how to re-key your car locks.There are several steps necessary in re-keying car door locks. Below is The Process Of Rekeying A Car Door Lock:
Resources:
lakeoswegolocksmith.net
lowes.com
amazon.com
STEP 1- Removing the tumbler and the lock
Begin by removing the car door lock as you work on removing the tumbler mechanism. You will find out that the tumblers that are inside are set in a similar pattern like the previous key that operated your car door lock. Does a readjustment on the tumblers so that they can be able to fit in a pattern of a different key so that the previous key can no longer open your car door lock
STEP 2- Replacing the pins
Replacement tumbler pins always come in sets. All pins differ in length and are on most occasions labeled using numbers. Put the new pins in the place where the old pins were. Make sure that the new pins do not extend further in comparison with the tumbler’s top. When re-keying more than a single car lock arrange the new pins in a similar order so as to use one key with each and of them
STEP 3- Marking your key blank in preparation for cutting
Insert the blank key inside the tumbler mechanism. Used a scribe or even a pen to mark the positions of all tumblers that are on the blade of the key-blank. These marks must indicate where the key requires to be cut
STEP 4- Cutting the new key
It’s important to use a dremel tool that has a cut off wheel so that you can be able to cut through the grooves of that key. If you cannot afford to have a dremel tool, use jeweler’s files when carefully cutting the grooves into the key-blank. Ensure that you check the fit often and you must be careful so that you do not cut below the marked lines. Patience must be observed when shaping precise instruments like keys
STEP 5- Testing your new key
After you cut the key, make sure that all the tumblers are perfectly flush with the outside edge of the tumbler plug that you are using. After everything is in place, test the new key. Reassemble the door lock mechanism as you try the new key. If you are lucky, the new key will perfectly work and you will have successfully completed the process of re-keying your car door lock. If for any reason the key fails to work, remove your car door lock and cut a new key again
STEP 6-Completion
After successfully making a new key that perfectly fits in the new lock tumbler configuration, adjust the tumblers that are on the other locks so that they can match with your key. Once the key opens all your door locks, reassemble the entire system because you will have re-keyed the whole car already. At this juncture, you should be in a position to take your latest key to any hardware around so that you can have several copies made from the original key that is less problematic in opening the new car door lock that has been configured
Tips
- – – You may need to lightly lubricate the locks when replacing the pins
- – – In order to prevent losing upper pins and springs from accidentally falling out, its important to work on high-contrast surfaces or over bowls/dishes that catch lock components whenever they fall out
The tools required when re-keying
- – * Pinning or re-keying set/kit of lock pins
- – * Cylinder follower
- – * Ring remover
- – * Plug follower
- – * Screwdriver
- – * Needle-nosed pliers or tweezers
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Posted by Bryan Thomas on Dec 8, 2015
The ignition of an automobile is something that is often overlooked in routine maintenance schedules. However, the ignition is obviously an integral aspect of running your car-without it, you aren’t going anywhere. If you are experiencing difficulties with your car ignition (the most common being that it will not turn), there could be several causes to the problem. Whatever you do, do not force-turn the key while it is in the ignition. Keys are made of soft metal, which means if you use tools to force the key to turning, the key can easily break off in the ignition-a much more complex and expensive problem than you originally started with. Thanks to our friends at Columbus Locksmith Pros, here is a list of common problems with car ignitions:
Faulty Ignition Switch: If you find the ignition system isn’t being triggered, and the engine is unable to start, the primary cause of this is likely to be related to the ignition switch. The best solution to this condition is having the ignition switch replaced entirely.
You should also ensure that your car is parked in the right way. Many vehicles will not let you start the engine if the car is not in “park” or “neutral.” Check to make sure your car is in park, then try to turn the ignition.
Dead Battery: A common reason for issues with the ignition system relates to the failure or malfunction of the main vehicle battery. It is found that the battery might experience problems as a result of the failure of the alternator that causes the ignition system to fail. By repairing the alternator and having the car battery recharged the problem is likely to be resolved with the ignition system.
Locked switch problem: Your steering column lock may be applying pressure to the ignition mechanism, prohibiting it from turning. To diagnose this issue, first, you will need to try to find a position where your key is able to turn in the ignition. Apply pressure to the key, as if you were going to start your vehicle, and gently turn the steering wheel from left to right until the key is able to turn.
The lock cylinder is dirty: Dirt and grime can prohibit your lock cylinder from functioning properly. Use electrical contact cleaner to remove the dirt from the mechanism. Then add a small drop of graphite lubricant. Do not use oil on the lock cylinder. Dust and dirt are attracted to oil. As the cylinders get dirtier, the tumblers will be prevented from moving, which means they will have trouble unlocking. Acceptable Lubricants include graphite and silicone. Be sure to leave your car door open when cleaning the cylinder, as the fumes from the cleaner can be hazardous.
Blockage in the tumbler: Tumblers (included on some lock cylinders) can get stuck in a locked position. Try tapping the lock cylinder with a tack hammer, which can cause the springs in the tumbler to release it from the locked position.
A bent key: While this is not the most common problem, your key can become bent, which will prevent it from fitting correctly in the ignition, and turning. Your key may not be visibly crooked, so lay it on a flat surface to see if the key is bent. If your key is bent, use a wooden block (or similar tool) to tap it gently back into the original shape (while it is laying on a flat surface). Again, do not use a metal hammer or similar object to bend your key, as keys are made of soft metal and can break easily.
Worn spark plugs: A further issue that is often found to cause problems with the smooth operation of the ignition is the spark plugs that might be starting to wear out. They can’t be repaired, so it is just a case of having them replaced with entirely new parts.
All in all, if you really want to ensure the smooth operation of your vehicle, you should ensure that it is given regular vehicle service. In situations where ignition problems are detected, it is highly beneficial if the necessary repairs are carried out as soon as possible. By keeping your car under constant maintenance is the only way you can avoid abrupt failure of the engine.
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