Ignition Cylinder Replacement

There is only one place that you should turn for your ignition cylinder replacement, and that is United Locksmith. We have the tools needed to get the job done, and the experience to assure that it is done right.

There is no need to fret when you put your faith in the best locksmith under the sun. Our locksmiths will arrive on time and can deliver emergency assistance if your problem ever catches you unaware.

Once your locksmith has determined that your car requires ignition cylinder replacement, they will give you the estimated time required for the job as well as the exact cost of the service. All that is required from you is the desire to continue with the process, and a bit of your time as the service is conducted.

When the ignition cylinder replacement begins, all replacement parts will have been secured. There is no reason to begin the process without having all of the necessary replacement parts. And if you are attempting to remove an ignition cylinder without a key, there will be more steps.

Ignition cylinder replacement always begins with disconnecting the negative terminal on the car battery. This helps the technician and the vehicle. It lowers the chance of electrical shock, and it also keeps the car from starting and turning on as the key is manipulated.

After this step is completed, the ignition needs to be made accessible. This will require the plastic covers to be removed from the steering column. Doing this requires some standard tools and some car-specific knowledge.

Most steering column covers have a mixture of screws, bolts, and plastic latches. The screws and bolts are relatively straightforward. They require a tool that can fit the head of the fastener. This can sometimes require special tamper proof bits if the car uses tamper proof screws. The plastic latches are where most of the effort is placed.

To disconnect these latches there is a dance between rough shaking and finesse. Without the proper knowledge, it is very easy to damage these latches. Sometimes it is only going to feel as though the latches are breaking when that is the way they must be removed. Other times that feeling will actually be the latches breaking.

Besides the latches, certain handles and accessories many need to be removed so that covers or screws can be accessed. Without knowing exactly what needs to come off, and in what order, this part of the process can take a while. This is one of the key reasons you should hire a professional locksmith to conduct your ignition cylinder replacement.

Once all of the steering column covers have been removed, it is now possible to access the ignition cylinder. There may be some more bolts on the cylinder, which will need to be removed. These may require tamper proof bits or have a standard head.

When all bolts and screws have been taken out of the cylinder it is time to depress the pushpins. The pushpins will be found in different locations, depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

They are recognizable as holes in the metal that will fit a small Allen key or similar thin probe tool. There may be two pushpins in some cases. Those will require more patience as one side can re-engage as you are working on the other.

Depending on the cylinder, the key will need to be moved into a specific position. Sometimes this is the “ACC” position or the “ON” position. This can be difficult if your key will not manipulate the wafers and turn correctly. If your lock is retaining the key, or not moving with the proper key, it is best to call a locksmith.

With the key turned to the proper position in the cylinder, all push pins depressed, and all fastening screws removed, the cylinder can be removed from the ignition. With the ignition cylinder out of the car, the lock can be decoded in the event that you would like the new ignition cylinder to fit the old key.

United locksmith offers this type of ignition rekeying service so that you do not need to have two sets of keys for one car. (One for the exterior locks and one for the ignition.) When you are installing the ignition cylinder replacement, there may be some further steps required, depending on the type of car.

Sometimes there is a spring-loaded trigger that must be depressed in order to install the ignition cylinder replacement. The new ignition cylinder is checked to make sure it is being installed properly. That means that the key has been moved to the position that the old cylinder was oriented to in order to be removed (ACC, ON, etc.).

Before the steering column is refitted, the battery is restored to working order so that the assembly can be tested. The battery should be unplugged again so that the paneling can be put back together. Then the job is finished and the car can be returned to working order.

Key Positions

Knowing the positions that your key can be moved to will help with the diagnoses of the issue. If your car key will not turn in the ignition, this must be solved first. It will also give you more information to relay to your locksmith technician, so they can be better prepared for your particular ignition cylinder replacement.

Similarly, this information may lead you to realize that you need another service along with or instead of ignition cylinder replacement. In any case, it is good to know these four key positions:

1. OFF/LOCK

When you remove or insert your key, the ignition must be in the “OFF” position. This is also referred to as the “LOCK” position. It should be the only position that the key can be removed from. In the other orientations, the key is locked into place.

The feature provides the safety of making sure that a person does not have their keys removed while driving. If the keys were to be removed will you are driving, the steering wheel would lock up, and the car might stall. If your key is not being retained in the other positions, then there is an issue with your cylinder. You will need some type of inspection, which may result in an ignition cylinder replacement.

2. ACC

The accessory position on your ignition allows you to use some of your electronics, but not all of them. Most often, at the very least, the radio will work. Sometimes power windows and air conditioning will also work from this position, but if not, the car will need to be moved to “ON” for these electronic capabilities. The key should also be locked into the ignition. There should not be a way to remove it, without first returning the key to the off position.

3. ON

When the key is moved to the “ON” position all of the electronics will run. Anything that could not be used during the “ACC” position will now work. There will be no way to remove the key from this position in the ignition. After the engine has cranked and turned over, this will be the position that the key returns to. In manual transmission cars, the vehicle can be “On” without the ability to turn over if the clutch is not depressed.

4. START

The “START” position is used to crank the engine of the vehicle. After the engine starts, the key should be released so that it can return to the “ON” position. The key should absolutely not be able to be removed from the ignition in this position. It is also important that the key does not remain in the “Start” position as prolonged stress on the starter after the car is running can damage the vehicle.

Diagnosis

Now that you know how your ignition should be working in all of the different positions, you will better be able to tell if the ignition cylinder is not properly retaining or releasing the key. Any removal or insertion issues are often a clear sign of a need for ignition cylinder replacement. This means that there is some sort of trouble with the wafer lock. Those wafer issues may be indicative of a failure in the cylinder itself, which will mean that the entire cylinder needs to be replaced.

If the electronics are not turning on at the right times, then there may be a problem with the internal mechanisms of your cylinder. The car may also not be starting. This is a very general issue, and may be an indication of a great many things, but it could also be the result of a faulty ignition cylinder.

If you would like some to help diagnose your broken ignition cylinder, you can schedule an assessment with our locksmith. If the issue is something lock related we will be able to assist you.