Car Key Extraction

How Car Keys Break

Many people think that it is uncommon for car keys to break, but it is an occurrence that has plagued many car owners, always requiring car key extraction. Car keys can break at any time for a plethora of reasons. One of the most common causes for a car key breaking is the stress of everyday wear and tear.

Like almost everything else, keys that are used consistently over a period of time will begin to gradually wear down. This is a process that takes time. You will be hard pressed to find a relatively new key that breaks off due to wear and tear. However sticky car locks can create enough consistent resistance to break keys quickly.

Car owners should cultivate a habit of paying close attention to their car keys. If there are any cracks, it is important to discontinue using that car key and begin to use a replacement. Some drivers find themselves in need of a car locksmith to help them with a car key extraction, simply because they decided to keep making use of a key that was likely to break.

In some cases, the key breaks off due to the use of excess force by the part of the driver. The break could occur in the ignition or in the lock if there is immense pressure applied when you are trying to open your door or start your car. When you are in the motion of unlocking your car door or starting your car, make sure that you do not apply an excess amount of force.

If you feel like the key is not moving the proper way it is supposed to, stop exerting turning pressure. It could be that the keyway of the door and the ignition are merely in need of some lock lubricant. The solution to that is quick and inexpensive, but if you happen to continue to force the key, there is a chance that you will damage it. The solution to that is not as quick, and it is not as inexpensive.

Also, some car keys break because of extreme changes in the weather. Broken car keys are a common occurrence during wintertime. With drastic drops in temperature, your key, your car door lock, and your car ignition are all susceptible to change. And a frozen car door being stuck can lead to over torquing the the key.

When metals are exposed to cold temperatures, they lose their kinetic energy and this leads to their molecules taking up less space, and thus, the metal begins to contract. Now, the nature in which metal contracts is not universal since there are many different types of metals, which all have their own respective properties.

Due to the drop in temperatures during winter months, many homeowners have a hard time trying to unlock their car doors. This is because the material with the lock, and also of the key itself, has warped ever so slightly due to its contraction. If you are having a hard time unlocking your door during these months or starting your car, make sure that you do not force the key to into the keyway.

Over torquing the key could very well lead to you damaging your car lock, your ignition, or the key. If you feel like your key is not working the way it is supposed to with the ignition, or with the car lock, it is a good idea to heat up the key a little bit and attempt to use it again. Also, you can lubricate the ignition or the door lock. This works in most cases.

In addition to the reasons listed above, some car keys can break due to the presence of debris in either the car lock or in the ignition. This normally happens when drivers do not maintain their cars over long periods of time. And if the car key won’t turn, don’t keep trying to force it.

The lack of maintenance leads to an excess buildup of dust and other materials that can block the keyway. If drivers are not aware of this, it could lead to their keys breaking off in either the lock or the ignition and this would call for a car key extraction. Try to salvage your key, even when it is broken, as it is possible to fix a broken key.

The car key extraction process is simpler than it sounds. But the task at hand will depend on the state of the key and the lock it is in. For example a key stuck in your ignition might not be the result of a broken key. If you are not a professional, there are a few ways  to remove a broken key, which you can try yourself.

When dealing with a car key stuck in the ignition, it is important to leave the car key extraction to a trusted and qualified car locksmith. If this important task is left to an unqualified individual, you increase the chance of damaging your car locks or your ignition.

As has been stated several times already, car key extractions are normally required when a key is broken off within the lock of a car door, or when it is broken in the car’s ignition. The extraction processes for these are similar, with a few minor differences, but we will walk you through the general steps so you have an idea of what to expect.

Car Key Extraction Process

When car keys break inside a lock cylinder (ignition cylinder or door lock cylinder) they normally break flush at the point where the shaft of the key meets the head of the key. To take care of a car key extraction, the locksmith will make use of a broken key extractor tool or they will use a broken key extraction kit. Each of these methods will accomplish the same goal, but their implementation differs in minor ways.

The broken key extraction tool is inserted into the lock to catch on the broken key and slide it out. Before this process is even started our locksmith will lubricate the lock to make sure that the lock can slide out with ease. This also ensures that there is no additional damage to the locking mechanism during the process of the extraction.

The locksmith will have an idea of just how deep the broken key piece rests within the cylinder by taking a look at the remainder of the key. It is important to have an idea of where the key is so that it is not pushed further back into the cylinder. The broken key extractor tool works by catching onto the bitting of the broken key and twisting it so that it slides out with the motion of the extractor tool.

In lieu of using the broken key extractor tool, some locksmiths will use a broken key extractor kit. A broken key extractor kit usually comes with a pair of spiral extractors, extractor pliers, and a hemostat. To properly use the extractor kit, the locksmith will need to have access to similar key that will fit partially into the ignition or into the door lock.

The spiral extractors have to be guided into the keyway so that they are in close proximity to the broken key piece. This step should be done with caution, to ensure that the broken key piece is not pushed further back. Once the spiral extractors are touching the broken key piece, the locksmith will begin to gently twist each of the spiral extractors in a clockwise motion.

After they have done this, the guiding key is removed, and the spiral extractors are wound around each other and then gently pulled back. The spiral extractor should pull the key piece out as it is being removed.

It is important that this is done slowly so that the key is properly removed. In some cases, once the shaft of the broken key is partially out of the keyway, the locksmith will make use of the extractor pliers and the hemostat to gently pull the rest of the key out of the keyway. Do not throw out the pieces, as the locksmith may need to copy the broken key using the fragments.