Things to Do When You Experience Ignition Problems

Driving is a joy because it gets us to where we want to be in a hurry. However, it doesn’t come without its fair share of problems. You have to keep up the maintenance of your car, make sure your insurance is renewed and make car payments. When you have to have repairs, they can be rather costly. One of the problems that we often receive service requests for at Cary Locksmith in Cary, NC is problems with keys getting stuck in the ignition. This is a common occurance of motorists but it isn’t anything that can’t be resolved. You would be surprised as to why your key is stuck in the ignition.

If you have a key that is slightly damaged, it can get stuck in the ignition. If your ignition is damaged due to your use of a bad key, you are sure to begin to have trouble getting the key out until you are no longer able to pull it out at all. The absolute worst thing you can do to get your key out of the ignition is to jerk it out. This will further damage the ignition and make the problem worse than it already is. Not only that but it is highly possible for you to completely break the key off in the ignition. Now the problem has gone from bad to worse because in addition to determining why your key was stuck in the first place, you’ll have to have the key extracted.

You might think that it is something you’ve done to cause the problem from the start. The reality is that you can’t really blame yourself because your key might look perfectly fine to you but it may be slightly bent or the key could have been cut incorrectly, without your knowing it. Don’t be too hard on yourself. We have your back at Cary Locksmith. This is why we are available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you with these unexpected situations. We have gone a step further to help you try to resolve the problem on your own, if possible.

Below you will find some information that may be of use to you when you have trouble with your ignition

Here is what you can do if your car is still turned on:

1. Make sure the gear is in the proper position. If it is still in the drive position and not the park position, you will not be able to remove your key.
2. Make sure the dashboard indicator shows the gear lever to be in the right position. You can slightly turn the lever back and forth to see if the key will loosen up and come out.
3. If this works, you should be able to put your car back into the parked position.
4. Even if this resolves the problem, you should still allow a trained professional to have a look at your ignition to make sure the problem doesn’t occur again.

Here is what you can do if your car is turned off:

1. Make sure your key is in the right position. If the cylinder is old it may cause the key to go in incorrectly.
2. Gently move your key in and out and back and forth to see if it will come out of the ignition
3. If your battery is dead, this will prevent you from being able to remove the key. If your dashboard will not light up, this is an indication of a dead battery. This features serves to protect your car from being stolen. When the dashboard is not working, it is unable to recognize your keys chip and therefore, your car will become immobile.

The above is an easy fix, if it works. If it doesn’t, go ahead and give us a call. We’ll dispatch the help you need immediately.

Things to Do While Waiting for Assistance

Depending on how far away you are from our locksmith, you may need to do a few things while you are waiting.

1. Keep your key in the locked position so that you do not drain the battery.
2. If you have to leave the car, don’t do so without having a spare key to lock the door behind you.
3. Don’t seek the help of someone who says they can help you get your key out. You can trust that they know what they are doing, especially if they are not a licensed locksmith with proven experience.

 

What a Locksmith Will Do

Our locksmith will do a total inspection and complete all of the troubleshooting that is customary for this type of problem. They will pay particular attention to your dashboard, battery and the cylinder to see if it is damaged. When they inspect the cylinder, they may have to completely take it out in order to do so. They may realize that the problem isn’t the ignition, rather, it is the key that is at fault. At the end of it all, you’ll receive a complete diagnosis of what the problem is. In some cases, all that they will have to do is get the key out of the ignition.

However, they need to determine why the key became stuck in the first place. In some cases, it may require them to completely replace a damaged or worn ignition cylinder or a bad component. The expenses of this type of job can vary depending on the amount of damage. Regardless of the job that needs to be done, you can rely on our highly-skilled and qualified locksmiths to be able to effectively handle the job. Our service professionals always show up with the needed tools to handle the job. Again, don’t act hastily by pulling the key out of the ignition if it is stuck, you will undoubtedly make the problem worse than it already is. We’re only a phone call away and can get you the help you need in a hurry.

Aricle source here: Things to Do When You Experience Ignition Problems

WHAT TO DO IN DIFFERENT LOCKOUT SITUATIONS

Lockouts happen daily, not only here in Cary, NC but all over the world. They are never planned (of course!) but no matter how careful we are, they seem to happen anyway. Some of us can go years or even a lifetime without getting locked out but others have it happen to them quite often. Like other inevitable things, it is best to be prepared for a lockout. If it never happens; great, but if it does, you’ll now know what to do about it.

Always the wrong time!

Have you noticed? Lockouts always seem to occur when you most need them not to! You might be getting ready for a hot date or a job interview. Your mind is dwelling on the important event about to happen, when BOOM; lockout has occurred! Lockouts can happen at your car, at your home or at your business or workplace. You can be alone or with a family member or close associate. You can be with a client or with your pet. Here at Cary Locksmith we have been helping folks with lockout assistance for many years. Our licensed, bonded and insured emergency lockout technicians have seen and helped with just about any and every lockout situation imaginable.

Lots of lockouts

There are plenty of lockouts because there are lots of locks! Your car has only three to speak of (door, ignition and trunk) but consider how much you use your car on a regular basis. Your workplace, home and business location all contain dozens of locks and each one of them is capable of shutting you out and interrupting your schedule and plans.

Car lockouts

Your car only has 3 to 5 locks on it depending on make, model and upgrades. Lockouts involving automotive vehicles are some of the most common, simply because we tend to spend SO much time driving them. You might have innocently gone out to warm up the car and forgotten about the keys in the ignition and locked the door. You might be distracted by the hurried rush of unloading luggage at the airport passenger drop off and accidentally locked the keys in the trunk.

Business lockouts

This category of lockout is little known but commercial lockouts happen all the time. Does your Cary, NC business have locks on the front or back door? How about interior rooms; do they have locks? Do you have a company safe? Does it lock? Local companies come in many forms; from dog groomers to luxury home building and everything in-between. The owner may step outside briefly to put out an open sign and accidentally lock himself out. Staff on a smoke-break may prop the always-locked back door and absent mindedly nudge the chair or prop and lock themselves out. We’ve known this to happen in the middle of the night at a local call center and even the manager was excluded from the building.

Home lockouts

These happen quite frequently, as well. The problem with lockouts at home is that people are so relaxed when they are home. They might step out for a minute to get the mail a few doors down at the street mailbox. When they get back home, the door is locked and they are alone. They might go out the front door fully knowing it’s locked but thinking that the back door or garage door are open, when they are not. Lockouts at home can also take place indoors. Toddlers can accidentally lock themselves in a bedroom while playing. Pets can do the same.

So…what are you supposed to do?

If you ask people out on the street what they should do if locked out, they almost always say “call a locksmith,” but do they really? Should they? They can and often should, but many times there are steps you can take to easily and inexpensively get back inside yourself. First of all, stay calm and don’t panic! Nothing good ever comes by “freaking out” and acting irrational.

Secondly, resist the urge to break back inside. We know – it’s your property and you can do what you like with it, but keep in mind that broken glass and wood often cut and injure. You also have to repair any damage you incur and if you think about it, the cost would actually be less (and safer, too) to just call for a locksmith.

Another problem with overreacting and forcing your way back inside is that you might be mistaken for a burglar, home invader, or terrorist. You might be shot by a neighbor, roommate, family member or even police who think that they are doing the right thing. Don’t risk it!

Spare keys

Spare keys can get you back inside fast and simply. They can also lead to huge problems if handled wrongly. DO hide one or more in non-conspicuous places like in the rain gutter or in the backyard smoker. DON’T hide one over the front door sill or under the door mat; these are the first place where crooks will look! If you have family members, friends or neighbors that you really trust; give them one. If not, go back to hiding those keys.

Get help

If you rent your home or business you can always call the property manager. Some locations like apartment complexes, office centers and retail strip centers have one on site and they are usually open Monday through Friday. Some management companies will charge a fee for lockout service. If your lockout happens on a weekend or after hours, your best bet is to call a 24-hour emergency locksmith.

Keep your cell handy!

Most people keep their smartphone nearby at all times. We recommend that you do the same, but also add the 24-hour contact information of a reputable locksmith to your contacts list. If you CAN get back inside on your own, great, but if you just can’t’, give your pre-selected lock professional a call and get back inside fast and safely!

Aricle source here: WHAT TO DO IN DIFFERENT LOCKOUT SITUATIONS

WHEN IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR LOCKS?

We can’t avoid the possibility: Some time, some place, something will eventually go wrong with your locks and keys. Despite the fact that a locksmith will always be available somewhere to help you out even if it’s after hours, it’s still better to be pro-active instead, so that you’ll prevent most every potential mishap.

Protecting your home is definitely important. We all want our place to be a sanctuary, a safe space that feels secure and comfortable with our loved ones. Therefore, it’s essential that you keep your locks in topnotch shape. Make sure your front-door locks ~ and any other outdoor locks ~ are always working properly, with exceptional durability. You’ll keep your family, and valuables, too, effectively safeguarded when your locks are tough and resilient.

Points to Consider

a new home

Whenever you move into a new place, you must immediately replace your locks. You never know which former residents may still have some of their old keys. Accordingly, it’s critical that you change your locks.

new roommates or new tenants

If you rent any space out in your house or apartment, or if you have any other rental properties, the same rules apply. Every time you switch occupants, replace your locks. Even if the former residents returned their keys, you can’t be positive that they haven’t still kept some of their extra keys around. If a break-in were to happen, you wouldn’t want to hold any doubts regarding an earlier tenant.

lost keys

If you realize for certain that your keys are truly lost permanently, then change your locks as soon as you can. All your exterior locks are now susceptible to an intruder, so replace them. After your outdoor locks are fully secured, then replace any of your indoor locks in the order of your personal security preferences.

normal wear and tear

Worn-out or rusted locks are a major failing in your home security. They grow harder to open as time goes by, making it easier for a thief to break or pick. If you have any locks with rust or tarnish, or if you notice any other signs of wear, now’s the time to replace it. If a lock keeps getting increasingly difficult to open with your key day after day, especially in cold weather, you ought to replace it.

damaged locks

If your locks are vandalized, damaged, or otherwise tampered with, then you need new locks. Don’t take any risks with your security! Replace your locks right away. Don’t keep a damaged lock for any significant amount of time, because it will make your property vulnerable to more problems, and it will also be easier for a burglar to enter.

rusty locks

You and your family come in and go out, shutting and opening the locks countless times. As the years pass, locks eventually wear out or even become rusty, and that means they can easily break. If you see any signs of rust, you’ll find out that it’s tricky to get your key into the lock mechanism, or that maybe you can’t even turn the key at all anymore. If so, replace the lock.

stuck keys

Your key can get stuck, or it may even break off, inside the lock mechanism. If any issue arises with an internal lock mechanism, the key won’t slide in as effortlessly as it should. If you observe any resistance when you attempt to turn the key, then take it as a sign: You must replace the lock.

deadbolts

Considering all aspects of your living situation, if you ever feel at risk of criminal activity for whatever reason, and you want to augment your home security, then any locksmith professionals worth their salt will tell you it’s best to install deadbolts. Reinforce your property’s security with the toughest locks.

combination locks

Do you lose your keys a lot? Then you should think about replacing your conventional lock with a combination lock. A combination door lock can be opened with a code you choose. If your combination input ever fails, or if you ever mislay or cannot recall your code, don’t fret, because most combination locks also come with a keyed lock. If you ever suspect that its access could have been compromised, change the combination, just as you would replace a standard lock if you lost your keys.

break-ins

If the worst occurs, and you’re robbed, it’s imperative that you instantly replace all the locks. The force used by a crook while breaking in will compromise the integrity of the lock mechanism. A damaged lock also puts you at a bigger risk of another theft in the future. You never know if your keys could have fallen into the wrong hands. Besides, mechanical failure can likely leave you locked out. Replace all the locks as soon as possible.

peace of mind

Your locks don’t actually have to display any obvious signs of damage for you to need to replace them. As years go by, you may not remember anymore how many neighbors, friends, and family members you’ve given spare keys to. Thus, to enhance your security, it’s a good idea to periodically replace the locks so as to keep your home well maintained. You’ll have that added peace of mind, because you’ll know that your possessions and loved ones are well guarded.

going digital

Are you thinking about going high-tech? Then replace all your basic locks with digital locks. You’ll successfully secure your home, without needing to use any keys at all. Keyless locks are opening new horizons in home security technology. They function with remotes or smart devices; keypads; alarm systems with remote codes; biometrics; and so forth. When you grow accustomed to it, you’ll discover that keyless locks are rather simple to use. Most include an appealing selection of features providing safety and convenience.

If you’re in Cary, North Carolina, and you need to track down a reliable locksmith professional, hire a staff mobile residential locksmith specialist from a reputable locksmith company such as Cary Locksmith, where you can request a free consultation.

Aricle source here: WHEN IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR LOCKS?