8 Ways How to Get a Broken Car Key Out of a Lock
“Oh no! My key in the broke in the ignition!”
It’s the stuff of nightmares. Relax though. It’s not the end of the world for drivers. In fact, you’re far more likely to be able to solve this problem yourself in this situation than the following situations.
“Oh rats! I locked my keys in the car!”
“Oh my God! I’m locked out of my car!”
Of course, there aren’t ideal situations either and are likely to require a mobile car locksmith to deal with quickly, particularly if it’s a lost only car key. You’ll need a full key replacement in some of these cases.
Nevertheless, let’s focus on 8 ways you can get a broken car key out of a lock yourself.
1. Tweezers
Don’t even continue to use the rest of the broken key. This won’t work. A good plan A is to try and pull it out with tweezers. Most tweezers are inappropriately sized for this task though and push the key further into the lock.
2. Two thin pieces of metal
Line a thin piece of metal on both sides of the broken key, then pull it towards you. Once both pieces of metal are in the keyway, turn your wrists inward to slide the key out.
3. Tap the cylinder
Position the keyhole facing down and strike the lock with a hammer. Keep the lock still, so that gravity can pull the broken key loose. If there is damage to the lock core, you’ll probably need to call a professional locksmith after the fact.
4. Super Glue
The technique here involves gluing a key to something small, like a match then pulling it free. While applying pressure, be sure the broken key isn’t pushed further into the lock. Once the two surfaces are glued together, pull the match away as if it was the bow of the key.
5. Broken Key Extractor
This is the professional solution to the problem. It’s the tool most professional locksmiths will use, but you can buy one for yourself. The tool involves trying to hook the teeth of the key with the extractor.
6. Jigsaw Blade
If you don’t want to buy a broken key extractor, you can construct your own with a small jigsaw blade. Get a thin piece of metal that fits in your keyway along with your broken key. Line up the serrations on your blade with key’s biting. With a twist and pull, the key should be out.
7. Magnets
Pulling the key out with a magnet may be an option with some key materials, although not the traditional brass key.
8. 24 Hour Locksmith
The last resort if you’re in a hurry, but a professional locksmith will be able to assist you if you have a broken car key with no spare, plus they’ll know how to rekey locks and arrange car key replacement. You can rely on the professionals not to cause further damage to your car or the lock too. Key replacement is likely to be needed whatever method you choose to fix this problem.
