Ignition Repair in Houston

There are some signs indicating that the ignition problem starts developing, but is still manageable. For instance, it may become hard to turn a key, which has to be turned, rotated and sometimes even jammed in a lock. Paul Car Key Houston specializes in mobile diagnostics and repairing of the ignition problems, that is why all these issues can be solved in the comfort of your home or office without bringing your car to the repair shop.

The Warning You Get Before It Stops Altogether

Any worn ignition provides the indications of wear, and you have to pay attention to them. You have to jiggle the key in order to turn it, you need to turn the steering wheel along with the key or try several times before succeeding. Sometimes you may notice that the key doesn't want to rotate if it is pulled outwards a little bit. In general, these symptoms shouldn't be ignored because an ignition lock, which turns sometimes, may get jammed tomorrow. Getting the ignition diagnosed before the car gets locked in gives you the opportunity to control the process of repair.

Telling the Key Apart From the Lock

Before you decide to replace the ignition cylinder, you should be sure that the problem is really in the ignition. Sometimes a very worn out key is able to show many of the symptoms similar to those of a worn out ignition. For example, if you have two keys and one of them turns better than the other one, then the problem may lie in the worn out key. The only thing you need to do is to cut a new key, and it will solve the problem without the ignition replacement.

However, other symptoms may indicate to some other reasons. The problem with the key, which is hard to turn, can result from a worn out key or ignition, but it may occur because of a high pressure of the steering lock. If you gently rotate the steering wheel together with the key, it will most probably release the key. If the key turns but the car does not react as expected, the problem may be connected with the ignition switch or some other electrical part. The difficulty in taking out the key can be connected with the shifter or with the interlock system. If the key rotates perfectly fine but the security light or immobilizer light stays lit, the problem may be not mechanical, but electrical. Our technician checks all these possibilities before suggesting any repair works.

Heat, Grit and a Heavy Keyring

Both key and ignition cylinder wear out with time due to normal usage, but some habits may make the process faster. Additional weight of the heavy key ring puts extra load on the ignition cylinder each time you drive the car. Over time it contributes to the ignition wear. Badly worn out or poorly duplicated key can also put additional load on the wafers inside the ignition because the cuts of the key no longer correspond to the cuts of the lock.

Dirty, wet or dusty keyway can also make you unable to turn your key. If your key becomes harder to insert and turn, it is a bad idea to force it. Excessive force may lead to the damage of the key or part of it will be left inside the ignition, complicating the procedure of repair.

Keyed Back to the Key Already in Your Pocket

If we can repair the ignition cylinder we'll definitely choose this option as it is much better and more effective to rebuild it instead of replacing it. During the replacement of the ignition cylinder you can continue using the same key, which is used to open the doors and ignition, however the configuration depends on the vehicle and the ignition and in this situation you don't have to keep two separate keys.

It depends on the vehicle how much labor is required for the repair. Some ignition cylinders are easy to access, while others require removal of some trim and components. Our technician can check the ignition cylinder of your car, advise whether you need to repair or replace it and tell the price of the work.

When the Immobilizer Is the Real Problem

Modern cars are equipped with both mechanical and electrical security systems, so a key which turns an ignition is still not authorized to start the engine. The majority of cars, which were produced after the late 1990s, uses some kind of transponder or immobilizer systems, but the exact system depends on the manufacturer, model and year of production. If the ignition cylinder or the key is replaced, the electric part of the system should also be taken into account if it is necessary.

Our technician can diagnose both mechanical and electronic ignition systems, however push to start button vehicles are different from the previous generation because there is no ignition cylinder which is turned by the driver. The problem of no start on such vehicles can be related to the smart fob, its battery, the car's battery, start button, brake pedal switch, immobilizer system and other electronic components. The preliminary testing of the system can help you to find out the real reason of the problem instead of replacing the parts only according to the symptoms.

Sometimes both the worn out key and worn out ignition may cause the same problems, that is why it is reasonable to check both of them during one visit. Do not arrange a tow or think that you should replace the ignition, just make sure what is wrong with your ignition by getting it checked. Call (832) 910-9448 with the information about your year, make and model of the car, and have your driver's license and proof of ownership or authorization prepared.