It sometimes happens that motor vehicle owners is in a hurry and then they use unnecessary force when inserting the vehicle key and occasionally this results in a broken key. The key will mostly snap just before the key head while the part which contains the working teeth is left behind in the ignition, from where it is sometimes very difficult to extract that part. The problem is even more serious if the ignition was locked when this incident took place, because it will now be impossible to open. Fortunately there are ways to deal with broken keys which is embedded in an ignition or door lock. Sometimes the key fail while the key head is still attached and the only solution will be to break off the key head by bending the key head back and forth until it snaps of. This part can now be permanently discarded. In most situations key failures result because the ignition is between two functions such as on and off.
What should be done?
The ignition should be realigned, if it is between two functions and this is done by using your thump or fingers or some other stiff object which can then be used to rotate the lock to the position in which it normally is when the key is inserted. It is never wise to use any form of emergency extraction unless the entire ignition area been properly cleaned from any contamination such as paper, fabric or any other loose debris. Lubrication of the ignition area is the next important step which has to be completed before extraction is attempted. It will be a good idea to use a lubricant spray or if available powder lock lubricant can also be used and this should be used liberally to ensure proper lubrication of all areas of that ignition lock. The next step will be to choose a suitable lock removal tool, which is freely available at most hardware stores and also at retailers that are selling vehicle parts. If it is not possible to obtain such a lock removal tool, it is also possible to use a homemade substitute.
Choosing a suitable removal tool
The removal tool should be narrow and thin enough to fit into the lock key way, which is simply the opening into which the key is inserted during the normal starting or opening process. It should be remembered that your lock tool should have one or more hooks at the end in order to be effective as key extraction tools. The hooks should be such that they can interact with the teeth of the broken key, so that they can be effectively used to pull the broken key out of the ignition or door lock. This process may require patience and a steady hand, but once the key has been extracted far enough it may be entirely possible to use long nose pliers, to completely remove that broken key.
