AUTOMOTIVE Locksmith Services
Ignition Keys
Even in the pages of history, locksmiths have been rekeying locks ever since locks could be rekeyed. As long as the lock can be disassembled for rekeying, the rekeying process is possible. The process of rekeying is extremely meticulous, and in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to do it, it can be a recipe for disaster. Don’t risk attempting to rekey your key lock yourself; hire a team of expert, skilled professionals like ours at Sherlock locksmith to do the work for you!
WHAT DOES REKEYING MEANS?
As the name implies, the process of “rekeying” involves changing the key that works with an already existing lock, without having to replace the entire lock. This is the key difference between rekeying and replacement; during key replacements, the whole is being replaced, but in rekeying, only the lock cylinder is going to be replaced. The general idea is the same when we’re talking about residential, commercial, or automotive locks. In ignition cylinders, the cylinder is the only part being removed so that the internal components can be accessed and reconfigured with ease. In car locks and ignitions, these components for rekeying are most likely called wafers.
In car locks, these wafers are moved to a uniform height whenever the key is inserted to the ignition. This “uniform height” is also known as the lock’s shear line. When all the internal components of a lock rests on the shear line, the plug of the device is now capable of turning. Without the correct key in the ignition, though, the wafers turn out to be different distances from the shear line, with some being higher and some being lower.
The one responsible for the wafers on your ignition cylinder aligning is the cuts on your key. As residential and commercial locks mostly have a single-sided ridge on the keys, car lock keys have double-sided wafer interfaces, otherwise known as slider cuts. Regardless of the style of lock you have, a professional, highly trained and experienced locksmith technician will be more than able to replace the small locking appliances responsible for the mechanism of your lock. In rekeying ignition cylinders, the first thing that needs to be accessed is the cylinder itself.
HOW DOES IGNITION REKEYING WORKS?
In accessing the ignition cylinder, the locksmith will start by removing the dashboard panels of your car. Before doing this, the battery of the car is disconnected in order to prevent electric shock, and will prevent the rekeying process from accidentally cranking the engine or turning the electronic systems on. These are plastic pieces that require different unlocking methods and disassembly procedures.
If you are planning to do a DIY and rekey your locks yourself, you will have to know that you might be out of luck; most cars utilize a set of tamper-resistant screws for their cars, and you will need special tools for this kind of job. During the process, snap latches will need to be disconnected, which could be very tricky and have a tendency to break without the proper care and disassembly methods. This is one of the reasons why professionals are preferred to do these kinds of procedures, as they have the proper experience, training, and knowledge to undo these latches without breaking them.
This is what makes the fine line between an amateur and a professional in ignition cylinder rekeying; the process takes a certain degree of artistry and focus that can only be gained through experience. Sometimes these latches require to be manhandled as part of their design, and other times, mistreatment or mishandling will only risk the latch breaking.
After all of the necessary panels have been removed from the dash, the housing for your ignition will be exposed. It is at this time where the rekeying process will begin. The cylinder will be removed temporarily and the key will be inserted to be turned into a specific position depending on the model of your vehicle.
Ignition cylinders will be on the accessory position in most cases, but some could also be at the “ON” position, the accessory into the “ON” position, or even the “ON” into the start position. If the cylinder is faulty, you might be unable to get the key into position on your own, and this is where the assistance of an experienced and highly-skilled locksmith will really come in handy. Once the key is put into the right position, one security pin or more will have to be depressed.
These security pins are accessible through a small hole on the cylinder housing. It will take a tool with the right size in order to access this. If the cylinder gets stuck, this can be solved by wiggling the key back and forth. If the problem persists, there might be an added layer of protection in the cylinder housing, such as an additional pin or screw.
Now that the cylinder is outside of its housing, there are some extra metal parts that will need to be removed. Depending on the make and model of your car, the exact place of the part on the cylinder will be different. Oftentimes, there are several clips and castles that have to be removed, and once they are, the lock can now be rekeyed. Once the key is removed from the ignition cylinder, all of the wafers will be freed, and some which might be bound in place will have to be removed in a more forceful fashion.
The ignition will now be reconfigured to fit your new key. Once the new code is finalized, your locksmith will insert new locking parts that will correspond to the key cuts of your new key. After this, the cylinder will need to be put back together by reinstalling the clips and castles, and will be moved into the same position that is required to remove it in order to be reinstalled in the housing.
In order to see if the key is working properly, the car battery is reconnected in order to be tested. The panels will then be put back together, and the process will be hailed as finished. This is what it takes to rekey ignition cylinders.
With the code of the new key, your locksmith will insert new locking parts that correspond to the different key cuts. The cylinder will need to be put back together, then the key will be moved into the same position required to remove it in order to reinstall it in the housing. The car can battery should be reconnected to see if the key is working properly. Then the panels can be put back together. That is what it takes to rekey ignition cylinders.
DIY – Why Shouldn’t You Do It?
When you’re planning to rekey your ignition cylinders on your own, lots of things can go wrong, and you might end up doing more harm than good for our car. The panels might break, for instance, leaving you with exposed wires in your car. The latches, which should be handled delicately, might also break, which will create a problem when it comes to reassembly, and may call for permanent reattachment if the damages to the latch are severe. While the panels are off during the process, the exposed wires might have a risk of being unplugged or damaged. There’s also the risk of mishandling tools in interfering with your ignition housing, which could severely damage the car.
Poking and prodding the assembly can also make a mess with the connections that are used to start your vehicle, which can result in a lot more frequent, and expensive, repairs. You’re working with very small parts as well; so you have the very high risk of losing parts once the plug of the cylinder is exposed, and the wafers are being removed. Things like small springs in the ignition cylinder can be hard to find if they fall on the ground, and they are extremely important to the mechanism of the lock. To avoid making mistakes that could damage your car entirely, it is always in your best interest to let the professionals handle the job.
Need your ignition cylinders rekeyed? Give us a call at 817-438-1962. Our team of highly skilled and well-trained technicians can do the work efficiently, skillfully, and precisely; and we believe that kind of service is what you deserve.
Residential
You deserve to be at home in a safe environment. We at Sherlock provide quality services and can fix your locks, duplicate your keys and upgrade your home security system.
Commercial
Having a trustworthy locksmith is a key component to a successful business in our area. Our dedicated locksmiths work diligently to deliver quality that you can rely on.
Automotive
Need an affordable and reliable automotive locksmith service provider? Look no further, we at Sherlock can handle all of your needs for a price that is hard to beat.
Emergency
We provide emergency locksmith services that you can count on. Our emergency locksmiths are fast and provide reliable services that guarantee your satisfaction.
SHERLOCK / FEB 10, 2021
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