Ignition Repair in Woodland Hills, CA

Why won't my ignition key turn?

An ignition key that won't turn is one of the most common car problems we get called about, and it almost always comes down to one of a handful of causes. The key may be worn, so it no longer lifts the internal wafers or pins to the right height. The cylinder may be worn or dirty, so the parts inside stick instead of moving freely. The steering column lock may be binding against the wheel. Or the problem may not be the cylinder at all, and the ignition switch behind it, or a shifter or interlock issue, is what's stopping the car from starting.

Those causes look alike from the driver's seat. Either way, the key goes in and nothing happens, or it turns partway and stops. The fix depends on which cause it is, which is why we diagnose before we cut, drill, or replace anything.

A few symptoms help narrow it down. If the key has gone from slightly stiff to impossible over weeks, wear is the likely culprit. If it suddenly stopped after you parked with the wheels turned, the steering lock is a strong suspect. If the key turns but the car doesn't crank, you probably have an electrical or switch problem rather than a stuck cylinder, and we'll tell you that plainly rather than sell you a cylinder repair that won't solve it.

This page is about the ignition itself: the cylinder, the key's interaction with it, and getting the car to start again. If you've snapped a key off in the slot, that's a related but different job, covered on our broken key extraction page.

What can you try if a key is stuck in the ignition?

Before you call, there are a few low-risk things worth trying. None of them should involve force. The most common way a fixable ignition becomes an expensive one is a driver putting a pry bar, pliers, or a big twist on a stuck key and snapping it or bending internal parts.

• Make sure the car is fully in park (or neutral for a manual) and press the brake pedal. Many vehicles will not release the key otherwise.
• Turn the steering wheel gently left and right while applying light turning pressure to the key. If the steering lock is binding, this often frees it.
• Look at the key itself. If it's visibly bent, cracked, or has a worn-down edge, stop. Further attempts can make it worse.
• Remove heavy items from the key ring. A dangling bundle of keys puts weight on the cylinder and can make a worn ignition bind.
• Do not spray oil or WD-40 into the cylinder. It can gum up with dust and make the problem worse later. If lubricating is appropriate, we use the right product.
• If the key still won't move, stop and call. Forcing it is the step that most often turns a repair into a replacement.

How we handle ignition repair, step by step

When you call (213) 577-1366, you'll reach us directly at any hour. We ask what the key is doing, what the car is, and where it's parked, then send a mobile van to you. Here's how the work usually goes once we arrive.

1. Confirm the vehicle and your ownership. We ask for the make, model, and year, and we check that the car is yours before doing any work on it.
2. Diagnose the cause. We test the key, check the steering lock, and see how the cylinder behaves. This separates a worn key, a worn cylinder, and a switch or electrical problem.
3. Free a stuck key safely. If the key is jammed, we work it out without breaking it or damaging the cylinder wherever possible.
4. Choose the repair path. Depending on what we find, we clean and repair the cylinder, rekey it to a new key, or replace it. We explain the options and what each involves before starting.
5. Cut and, where needed, program the key. If the car uses a transponder chip, the new key has to be programmed to the vehicle. That part is covered on our transponder key programming page.
6. Test everything. We check that the key goes in smoothly, turns through every position, starts the car, and comes back out cleanly, then we hand over working keys.

Repair the cylinder, rekey it, or replace it?

Customers often assume a bad ignition means a whole new unit. That's not always true, and it's not always the more economical route either. The right answer depends on the wear and the vehicle.

Repair makes sense when the cylinder is mostly sound and the trouble is dirt, a sticking part, or a key that has simply worn out. Replacing the key alone can sometimes restore normal operation, because a worn key is a surprisingly common reason for a cylinder that seems dead.

Rekeying makes sense when the cylinder works but needs to match a new key, for example when you've lost the originals and don't want the old ones to keep working. It's a job where an experienced locksmith saves you from replacing parts that don't need replacing.

Replacement makes sense when the internal parts are badly worn, the cylinder is damaged from forced attempts, or the vehicle's design makes repair impractical. On some vehicles the cylinder and the electronic ignition components are linked, so replacing one affects the other. We check this rather than assume.

If the real issue turns out to be that you have no working key at all, that's a key-making job and you may want our car key replacement service instead. We'll tell you if that's the better path.

What affects the cost of ignition repair?

We don't quote numbers on a web page, because an honest price for ignition work depends on the car and the diagnosis. What we can tell you is what moves the cost up or down, so you can judge any quote you get from anyone.

• The cause. Freeing a binding steering lock or replacing a worn key is a lighter job than replacing a worn cylinder. A switch problem is a different job again.
• The vehicle. Some makes and years have simple mechanical ignitions. Others pair the cylinder with immobilizer electronics, which adds parts and programming.
• Whether a key must be made. If you have a working key, the job is simpler. If every key is worn out or missing, key cutting and possible programming are added.
• The condition of the cylinder. A cylinder damaged by prying or a snapped key usually costs more to fix than one that's just worn.
• Where and when. Mobile service to your location and after-hours calls are part of the picture, and we explain that up front.
• Parts availability. Some cylinders are readily available. Others for certain vehicles can be harder to source, and when the dealer is the only source we say so.

Ignition repair across Woodland Hills

Woodland Hills spans ZIP codes 91364 and 91367, and a stuck ignition can happen anywhere from a driveway to a parking structure. We're based in Westwood and come to you with a mobile van, roughly 18 miles from our storefront, so we plan the visit around your exact spot.

In Warner Center, the area's concentrated condo towers, large apartment complexes, and HOA-managed buildings use controlled-entry systems. If your car won't start and you live in one of them, the practical question is access: we'll ask how to get in, who can open the gate or door, and where the car is parked, so we don't arrive and then have to wait at the entrance. Telling us this on the first call makes the visit go smoothly.

South of the Boulevard, the hillside streets in neighborhoods like Vista de Oro and Carlton Terrace have many homes behind driveway gates. If your key has stopped turning in a car parked behind a gate, we'll need it opened or a code provided. Up in Walnut Acres, the large lots and long driveways mean the car may be a fair walk from the street, which is useful to know when you describe where we're headed.

Other parts of town come up too. Around the Girard Tract, College Acres, and Dumetz Hills, ranch-tract driveways and street parking are the norm, and the work is a straightforward visit to the car. Near Pierce College, many people live in apartments and park nearby, so tell us whether the car is in a lot or on the street. We take the same approach on the Ventura Boulevard corridor and around The Village at Westfield Topanga, where a car that won't start may be in a lot you can't easily leave.

Woodland Hills also regularly records some of the hottest summer temperatures in Los Angeles. Heat doesn't create ignition wear, but it's hard on plastic key heads and on parts already near the end of their life, and a key that was barely working can give up during a hot spell. If your key is getting stiff, don't wait for it to fail in a parking lot.

Which vehicles do you work on, and when is the dealer the right call?

We work on a wide range of makes and models, and for most we can repair or replace an ignition cylinder at your location. We don't promise that for every vehicle, though, and we don't guess. The details that matter, such as whether your key has a transponder chip, whether the cylinder and immobilizer are linked, and whether the vehicle needs special parts or equipment, are confirmed by VIN or in person with the car in front of us.

A small number of vehicles are effectively dealer-only for certain ignition or key-programming work. When that's the case, we'll say so plainly instead of taking your call and then sending you away. Occasionally the honest answer is that the dealer is the right place for the job, and we'd rather tell you that upfront.

If your car won't start and you aren't sure the problem is the ignition at all, our broader automotive locksmith service covers the full range of car key and lock work. If you're locked out of the car as well, see car lockout, which is a separate job from ignition repair.

Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for ignition work?

We've been in business since 1987, and ignition work is the kind of job where that experience shows. A worn ignition that looks the same as a dozen others sometimes isn't, and the way to avoid replacing the wrong part is to have seen a lot of them.

We have a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans, so you're dealing with one company, not a call center that passes your job to whichever subcontractor is free. The person who answers the phone works for the same business that sends the van.

David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. That matters on ignition jobs, where the temptation to replace instead of repair is real. We'd rather explain the options and let you decide.

We also answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, which matters because ignition trouble tends to surface at the worst time. If you need an after-hours visit, our 24-hour locksmith and mobile locksmith pages explain how that works.

How do I check a locksmith's license?

California requires locksmith companies to hold a license from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, known as a BSIS LCO license. Whoever you call for ignition work, ask for their license number and ask how it can be verified. A legitimate company will give it to you without hesitation.

It's also fair to ask a few other questions before anyone comes out. Do they work on your type of car? Will they explain what they found before starting? Will they tell you the factors behind the quote? If an answer is vague, that's worth noticing. For other questions about our service area, see our locations page.

More locksmith help in Woodland Hills

• Automotive Locksmith in Woodland Hills
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• Lost Car Key Replacement in Woodland Hills
• Transponder Key Programming in Woodland Hills
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• All services in Woodland Hills

Ignition Repair near Woodland Hills

• Tarzana
• Canoga Park
• West Hills
• Winnetka
• Calabasas
• Topanga