Five Clues Your Ignition Cylinder Is Failing

In general an ignition cylinder rarely breaks down without warning and in most cases, a series of minor symptoms like a tough key turning, a necessary wiggle to start, etc. appear a few weeks before the no start and are easy to ignore until one fateful morning when you can't start the engine anymore. Knowing how to spot these signs early gives you an opportunity to address a relatively small problem before you find yourself stranded with a broken ignition cylinder, let's discuss the five most common signs in detail:

1. The key doesn't turn easily anymore

When it works properly the ignition cylinder rotates evenly, requiring no effort or additional actions from you to start. With the wear of the wafers inside the cylinder, turning the key may become more difficult, rough, or require some additional manipulations, so if you started to wrestle the car into life and found yourself struggling to turn the key each morning, there is a high chance that this issue originates from the ignition cylinder and will gradually become severe.

2. It requires you to wiggle the key

In case you have developed a "special skill", which involves jiggling the key, lifting the wheel, etc., you shold know that it's not something special but rather an indication for an upcoming ignition failure and another thing you need to undersatnd is that such tricks does not work and sooner or later they will cease to be effective and it is better to address them before you stop being able to start your car.

Take these tricks seriously!

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3. Key jamming inside the lock or not pulling out

A key sticking either when you insert it or trying to remove it is another clear sign. Sometimes this may indicate some problems with the steering lock or the gear lever position, but nevertheless, key jamming should definitely be taken into account. Forceful attempts to pull it out may result in a broken key left inside the lock, which then turns out to be a separate issue discussed in the article on how to open a car when the key is broke off in the lock.

4. Flickering dash lights and accessories

Remember that the ignition switch is an electric component as well. Therefore, flickering dashboard lights while you are turning the key or blinking accessories when switching modes (like headlights) are signs that something is wrong with the contact points of the mechanism.

This time you will face an electric problem that indicates issues with the ignition switch, although you are dealing with the ignition anyway. Don't delay the inspection!

5. Intermittent engine no start with a good battery

A no start accompanied by intermittent issues, meaning the car sometimes starts and sometimes not, may signal about problems with the ignition switch. Intermittent issues, generally speaking, don't fix themselves and the problem will become more apparent until the no start appears every time you turn the key, which happens quite rapidly.

Don't postpone checking such an issue, otherwise you risk having to tow your car after a complete failure of this component.

Could the key be the problem?

One important point to remember: the wear of a key and a cylinder produces practically identical symptoms. In some cases, the installation of a brand new key solves the problem for pennies on the dollar compared to the ignition cylinder. A skilled locksmith should check both of them first, before giving any advice on repairs.

Common signs for ignition cylinder failure

A malfunctioning ignition cylinder usually provides a clear symptom list: a difficult key turning, necessary key manipulations to start, a jammed key, flickering lights, or a combination of intermittent and no start situations. Addressing any of them at once gives a chance to solve the issue in time, before the situation becomes critical that is, you will have the ignition cylinder replaced instead of being towed after the failed starting, but you can do something in advance to make the diagnosis easier. Avoid forcing a jammed key, which inevitably leads to breaking it. Remove excessive accessories from your keychain, they increase the tension in the cylinder due to additional pressure applied to the key.

And last but not least: ignition related issues are the few car problems that never improve, therefore today might just be the best moment for fixing the problem cheaply.

If your car's ignition is giving you trouble, then we can absolutely help you, our experts offer mobile ignition repair and key cutting throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.