Your car will not start. The key turns but nothing. It will not turn at all. Before you call a tow truck or go to a dealer. We can fix the problem right where your vehicle is.
MLine Locksmith does ignition switch replacement and ignition cylinder service in the Main Line area, including Devon, Wayne, Berwyn, Malvern, Paoli and Villanova. We come to your vehicle, figure out what is wrong and fix it without you having to move your car.
Licensed and insured. 1-year warranty on parts and labor.
First we need to know if it is the switch or the cylinder that is broken. Most people do not know that there are two parts to the ignition and that is important to know before we start working on it.
The ignition lock cylinder is the part where you put the key. It has pieces inside that have to line up with the keys cuts so it can turn. This part is just mechanical.
The ignition switch is the part behind the cylinder. When you turn the key it sends a signal that starts the cars systems and engine. This is where the power is.
They break in ways and give different signs that something is wrong. If we replace the one it is a waste of time and money.
Here is a quick guide to help you figure out what is wrong with your ignition.
Symptom | More likely cause |
Key won’t insert or turn | Ignition cylinder |
Key turns but car won’t start | Ignition switch (electrical) |
Key gets stuck and won’t come out | Ignition cylinder or steering lock |
Dashboard lights on, no engine crank | Ignition switch (electrical) |
Intermittent stalling or power loss | Ignition switch (electrical) |
Broken key inside the ignition | Cylinder + broken key extraction needed first |
We always check what is wrong before we say we need to replace something. A lot of times people think they need an ignition switch but really they just need their cylinder fixed or maybe their key is just worn out.
The key will not turn: This is usually a problem with the cylinder. It could be because the little pieces inside are worn out or the key is damaged and putting much pressure on the cylinder or the steering wheel lock is stuck. Try turning the steering wheel a little while you turn the key. If that works it is the steering lock, not the ignition.
The car has power: Will not start. The dashboard lights are on. The accessories work, but the engine will not start. This means the electrical ignition switch is not sending the signal to start the car. It can happen sometimes. Not always, which makes it hard to know what is wrong until it stops working completely.
The key is stuck in the ignition: This could be because the cylinder is worn out or there is dirt inside or the key is bent. Do not try to force it out because that can make it worse.
You have problems when you drive: The radio stops working the dashboard lights flicker or the accessories stop working. A bad ignition switch can cause all these problems so they often happen together with the starting problems.
Your keychain is heavy: This might seem strange. It is a common problem. If you have a lot of keys on your keychain it can put much pressure on the cylinder while you are driving. Over time this can wear out the pieces inside and make it hard to start the car.
Step 1: We come to your vehicle. Check the ignition cylinder, the electrical switch, the key, the steering lock and the car’s electrical system. This tells us what is wrong before we start working on it.
Step 2: We tell you honestly what we think is wrong and what we need to do to fix it. We do not recommend replacing something if it’s not necessary. If the cylinder is a little worn out and the key is the problem we might just need to make a new key. If the cylinder is broken, but the switch is fine we just replace the cylinder.
Step 3: If we need to replace something we take out the part and put in a new one that is compatible. We make sure it is working properly before we move on.
Step 4: If your car has a transponder system we need to make sure the new key works with it. We check to make sure the key communicates with the cars computer and that the car starts reliably.
We fix it if the cylinder is a little worn out or if cleaning it makes it work smoothly again or if we can just replace one of the little pieces inside. We also fix it if the problem is with the ignition.
We replace it if the cylinder is broken and cannot be fixed or if the electrical switch is not working and is causing problems starting the car or if the ignition was damaged during a break-in or if the same problem has happened before after we fixed it.
We will explain why we think we need to do one or the other before we start working on it. We do not want to replace something if fixing it will work as well.
It is important that we come to you to fix the ignition problem. If your car will not start you cannot drive it to a dealer or a shop. That means you have to tow it which takes time and money.
We bring our tools and parts to your car. If you are in a parking lot in Wayne or in your driveway in Devon or at a gas station in Malvern we come to you. For ignition problems you do not need to tow your car. If you go to a dealer you have to schedule an appointment and leave your car there. We can usually do the job faster on site and for money.
It depends on the year, model and security system of your car. If you are not sure if we can work on your car, call us with the make, model and year. We will let you know before we come out.
Licensed & insured locksmith serving Chester County and Delaware County, PA.
A licensed automotive locksmith can replace both the ignition cylinder and the electrical ignition switch on cars. We can usually do it on site without you having to take your car.
It depends on what we replaced and how. If we replace the cylinder you will need a key that fits the new cylinder. If we just replaced the switch and the cylinder is still the same your old key will probably still work. We will let you know what you need after we check it out.
No, they are parts that break in different ways and give different signs that something is wrong. We need to check it out to know which one needs to be replaced.
This usually means the electrical ignition switch is not working, then the cylinder. It could also be a problem with the transponder system. We need to come out and check it to know for sure.
Most jobs take between one and two hours on site. If your car has a transponder system it might take a little longer. We will give you an estimate of how it will take when you call us with your car’s details.
Do not tow your car before you know what is wrong.
Hours: 7 AM, to 11 PM every day.
We serve Devon, Wayne, Berwyn, Malvern, Paoli, Villanova and the surrounding Main Line area.
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