You want to be able to trust your car. You want to know that it will start every time you insert the key in the ignition and turn it. After all, you depend on your car in great measure. You probably drive to work, pick your kids up from school, and go shopping using your car. This is why it is very important to make sure the car is in tip top shape. Most people mostly focus on the mechanical parts, on the tires, and on the electric system. Few people realize that there is one little part that, in case it malfunctions, can prevent your car from starting. In case you haven’t guessed already, the part we are talking about is the ignition cylinder. If the ignition of your vehicle fails, you will have absolutely no way to start the car. And this is a very big problem because you can’t even get the vehicle to a mechanic without paying a small fortune on towing services. Well, know that there is a way to solve the problem even without a mechanic. But we’ll talk about that a bit later. For now, let’s see how you can figure out that the ignition cylinder is about to fail and what to do when you have ignition cylinder problems.

Common Signs of a Failing Ignition Cylinder

As with all problems, an ignition cylinder failure comes with many warnings. In most cases, you should be able to detect that there is a problem and replace the old part. However, most people simply don’t pay attention to these signs. This is why so many people in Snellville, GA have requested assistance from Pro Mobile Locksmith, LLC when their ignition cylinders suddenly failed. Here are the signs to keep an eye – or ear – on:

• The key gets stuck in the ignition cylinder from time to time. This may not seem like a big problem, but it really is. Because of wear and tear, the key is increasingly difficult to insert into and extract out of the ignition. The key is rarely to blame when this starts to happen. In most cases, the cylinder is worn out and prone to failing at any time. If the problem gets worse, the key will be almost impossible to remove from the cylinder. This is already a very serious sign that the ignition on your vehicle is about to break.
• The engine of your car starts to fail while you drive your car. This may sound like a mechanical or electrical problem. However, know that an old ignition cylinder may be at fault. Low contact and a loss of voltage inside the cylinder may cause your car to misfire or stumble. In some cases, the engine cuts out completely as if no key was inserted into the ignition. We don’t have to tell you how dangerous this situation is on a busy highway.
• You will start to have trouble powering the vehicle on. Certain positions of the key may not work correctly. For example, the car will not detect when you turn the key once or twice. In some cases, the car won’t start at all when you turn the key to start the vehicle.
• You hear strange noises coming from the ignition when you turn the key inside the cylinder. Squeaking or screeching sounds are never a good sign. It means that the cylinder is malfunctioning and that it is worn out. It is time to change it or risk being stranded on the side of the road one night.

What Happens if the Ignition Cylinder Breaks?

As we stated above, you can be in danger if the ignition cylinder does not hold the key in place while you are driving. If the engine stops working while the car is travelling at 100 miles per hour, you are in serious peril. Remember, when the engine stops, you lose steering and brakes in a modern car. As such, ignition cylinder problems must be treated as critical.

In the best-case scenario, you will get into your car one morning to go to work, turn the key in the ignition and realize that the car won’t start. Even worse, it can happen late at night. You will not be able to start your car no matter how hard you try because the ignition cylinder is broken and the key does not turn how it should.

What to Do When You Break the Key in the Ignition

In other cases, you may break the key in the ignition. This is even worse than not being able to start your car. What you should not do is attempt to force the key out of the cylinder using improvised tools and inadequate methods. What you should do is get the car to a mechanic or call a professional locksmith company in your city.

Do You Need a Mechanic?

Most people are under the impression that only a mechanic can solve the problem with their car. This is not the case. While a mechanic is needed to solve mechanical and electrical problems, problems with the ignition cylinder can be solved by a locksmith on the spot. To get the car to the mechanic, you will most probably have to pay for towing service. Because locksmiths are mobile and come to your location, you instantly save a lot of money on towing. And in many cases, a locksmith is cheaper than a mechanic.