01
Call with the symptom
Say what the key does, and give the year, make and model. That tells us what to load.
Locked out? Call 604-227-908324/7 emergency · Vancouver · Kitsilano · West End · East VanArrival window on the callNo hidden feesLicensed & insured
Locked out? Call 604-227-908324/7 emergency · Vancouver · Kitsilano · West End · East VanArrival window on the callNo hidden feesLicensed & insured
Ignition repair in Vancouver
Key won't turn, stuck in the ignition, or snapped off in it? A licensed locksmith comes to the car and frees, repairs or replaces the ignition cylinder where it is parked. Call 604-227-9083.
No tow. The repair comes to the car.
Cylinder, key and chip handled in one visit, at the car.+
Fig. 01 — Vancouver, BC(24/7)
Over 30 years of combined locksmith experience.
BC Security Business Licence #B6227.→
Always openBC Security Business Licence #B6227.→
Call now
604.227.9083
► 01 / What we fix
Which ignition problem do you have?
The symptom tells us what to bring.
Most ignition calls are one of four faults. We work out which one on the phone, so the right parts are on the van before it leaves.
- Key will not turnSteering lock under load, a worn key, or a worn cylinder
- Key stuck in the ignitionKey will not come out, or will not go back to off
- Key broken offPart of the blade is left in the cylinder
- Turns, but no startOften the ignition switch, the chip in the key, or a flat fob
If the key turns and the car still will not start, the cylinder has done its job. The fault is behind it, and we say so on the call rather than sell you a cylinder.
► 02 / Key will not turn
Car key won't turn in the ignition: try this first
A key that will not turn is often a steering lock under load, not a broken ignition.
Rock the steering wheel
Hold light turning pressure on the key and move the wheel firmly left and right. If the lock lets go, nothing is broken.
Try your spare key
A spare that turns means the blade on your everyday key is worn. A fresh cut fixes that. See car key replacement.
Stop if both fail
Do not force it. A blade snapped off inside the cylinder turns a repair into an extraction. Call us instead.
Tell us the make, model and year and what the key does. The total for your car is confirmed on the call, before a technician is sent.
The ignition switch behind the cylinder, and a few vehicles that only the dealer can service, are also confirmed on the call. If a new cylinder means a new key, we say so before we start. See transponder key programming.
► 04 / Repair or replace
Does the ignition cylinder need replacing?
Not always. A stiff cylinder can often be cleaned and put back.
✓Repaired in place
- Gritty, stiff or slow-to-return cylinders where the tumblers are still good
- Bound steering locks released
- Broken key drawn out without drilling the cylinder
✕Replaced
- Tumblers worn past holding a key reliably
- A damaged cylinder housing
- A coded cylinder that has to be matched to the car
Where the car allows it, the new cylinder is coded to the key you already carry.
► On the job
Ignition repair at your car in Vancouver
Two typical jobs, both done where the car stopped.
01
Cylinder freed, cleaned or replaced
The technician removes the column cover, tests the cylinder and either services it or swaps it for a matching unit. Ownership is checked against the registration before any key is cut.
If a new cylinder means a new key, it is cut and programmed in the same visit.
02
Broken key drawn out of the ignition
A blade usually snaps at the shoulder, with the cut part still held by the tumblers. Do not pick at it with pliers or glue. We draw it out with an extractor, then cut a fresh key so it does not happen again.
Where a worn cylinder caused the break, the extraction and the repair are one visit.
► 05 / The visit
How a mobile ignition repair works
02
Tell us where the car is
Give a cross street, or the level and stall if you are underground. A parked car cannot be moved, so the van works beside it. Arrival is confirmed on the call.
03
Repaired and tested at the car
We free, service or replace the cylinder, cut and pair a key if needed, then test off, accessory, on and start before handing the car back.
► 06 / Parkades
Ignition trouble in a parkade
Parkade gates and fobs belong to your strata, not to us.
✓We do
- Repair the ignition once we are at the car
- Work with the concierge or building staff who let us in
✕Your strata or property manager
- Gates, lobby doors and parkade access
- Building fobs. We never copy or program them.
Give us the level and stall number, and ask building staff to let the technician down.
01Why won't my car key turn in the ignition?
The most common cause is a steering lock under load. Rock the wheel left and right while holding light pressure on the key. If that fails, try a spare. A spare that works means your everyday key is worn. If neither turns, stop and call us.
02How much does ignition repair cost in Vancouver?
The total for your car is confirmed on the call, before a technician is sent. See our locksmith prices.
03Can a worn ignition cylinder be rebuilt instead of replaced?
Often, yes. A gritty or stiff cylinder can usually be cleaned and relubricated. Replacement is the call once the tumblers no longer hold a key reliably or the housing is damaged.
04Can a new cylinder work with the key I already have?
On most vehicles, yes. Some makes will not allow it, and then you get one new key cut and programmed for both the doors and the ignition.
05The key turns but the car won't start. Is it the ignition?
Not usually the cylinder. It may be the ignition switch behind it, a chip the car no longer recognizes, or a flat fob battery. Describe what the car does after the key moves and we will tell you which on the call.
06Does my car need to be towed?
No. Cylinders, a key cutter and a programmer come to the car, including cars parked in an underground stall.
► Areas we serve
Vancouver neighbourhoods we repair ignitions in
Mobile ignition and car key service across the city of Vancouver and the UBC area.
Each area page covers the buildings and parking we see in that part of the city.
View Service Areas ↗Call about your ignition: 604-227-9083
↗Tell us the make, model and year, and what the key does. The total is confirmed on the call, and so is arrival.