Car Ignition Repair Chelsea Ignition and Door Locks
Our car ignition repair service in Chelsea fixes ignition barrels that will not turn, steering locks that stay jammed, and door or boot locks damaged by wear or an attempted theft, working at the car anywhere in SW3 and SW10 and usually arriving within 30 minutes. Because the work depends on the make, model and parts, ignition and car door lock repair is priced on the phone before we set off, with no call out fee. Call 07520 643913 with your registration and a description of what the key is doing.
- DBS checked locksmith
- Public liability insured
- Over 5 years working in Chelsea
- Price agreed before work
- No call out fee
Key will not turn in the ignition? Try this first
Before you book any repair, rule out the simplest cause. On cars with a key barrel, the steering column locks when the engine is off and the wheel is turned. If the wheels were left against a kerb, the lock is under load and the key will not turn.
- Turn the steering wheel gently left and right while turning the key at the same time. It usually releases with a click.
- Check the gear selector is fully in park on an automatic. Many automatics will not release the key or turn it unless they are.
- Try the spare key if you have one. If the spare works, the problem is the worn key, not the ignition.
Never force the key with pliers or a hammer. A snapped key in the ignition turns a modest repair into a longer one.
Ignition and car lock faults, causes and fixes
| Symptom | Usual cause | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Key goes in but will not turn | Worn wafers in the ignition barrel, or a worn key | Repair or replace the barrel; cut a fresh key to code |
| Key turns only with jiggling | Key and barrel worn together over years | New key cut to the original code, barrel serviced |
| Steering lock stays engaged | Steering lock mechanism or barrel fault | Release and repair or replace the lock |
| Key stuck in the ignition | Worn barrel, bent key or gear selector not in park | Key freed, barrel repaired, key replaced if bent |
| Broken key inside the ignition or a door | Weak or cracked old key | Piece extracted, new key cut |
| Door lock turns freely, nothing happens | Barrel forced in a theft attempt, or linkage detached | Barrel replaced and coded to your key, linkage refitted |
| Push button start dead with key present | Usually electrical or a key battery | Battery checked; otherwise we refer you on |
Ignition and car lock repair prices
Ignition and lock repairs are quoted on the phone from your registration; related key jobs have fixed ranges, all with no call out fee.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Ignition barrel repair or replacement Depends on make, model and parts | Priced on the phone before we set off |
| Car door or boot lock repair Barrel repaired or replaced and coded to your key | Priced on the phone before we set off |
| Spare car key cut and programmed When the key is worn but the barrel is fine | £50 to £90 |
| Car lockout If a damaged lock leaves you shut out | £40 to £65 |
Prices include parts and labour. The lower figure is a standard daytime job, the higher figure covers nights, weekends and high security parts. Your exact price is confirmed on the phone before we travel, with no call out fee. See the full Chelsea price list.
Ignition barrel repair or replacement
An ignition barrel contains small spring loaded wafers that line up with the cuts on your key. After years of heavy key rings swinging from it, the wafers and the key both wear, and the key stops lining them up. Often the barrel can be stripped, the worn wafers adjusted or replaced, and a new key cut to the original factory depth so the two match properly again.
If the barrel is too damaged, we replace it and code it to your existing key wherever possible, so you are not left with one key for the ignition and another for the doors. On some cars the immobiliser antenna ring sits around the barrel, and we refit it carefully so the chip in your key is still read.
If the key itself is the problem and the barrel is fine, a newly cut and programmed key is cheaper. That is covered on our spare car key page.
Car door and boot lock repair after an attempted theft
Cars parked overnight on quiet streets off the King's Road and around the squares of SW3 sometimes get an unwelcome visit. A forced driver's door barrel, a boot lock that now spins, or a door that will not lock from the remote are typical signs. The car may still be there, but it is now easier to take.
What to do if someone has tried to get into your car
Do not tidy up first. Take photographs, report it to the police and get a crime reference for your insurer. Then call us with the registration and we will tell you whether the lock can be repaired or needs a new barrel coded to your key. If the damage is to the bodywork rather than the lock, that is a job for a body shop.
A car that has been targeted once often belongs to a model thieves like. After the repair, read our guide to keyless car theft in Chelsea, and if the attempt was on the house rather than the car, our burglary repair and secure up service can help.
Early signs an ignition barrel is wearing out
Ignitions rarely fail without warning. Catching the signs early usually means a cheaper repair at a time you choose, rather than a breakdown outside a school or a restaurant.
- You have to wiggle or push the key in further than you used to before it turns.
- The key turns more easily one way up than the other.
- The key comes out of the ignition when the engine is running, or will not come out with the engine off.
- The edges of the key look rounded or shiny compared with the spare.
- Door locks feel stiff in cold weather and the key has started to bend slightly.
Heavy key rings speed up the wear because their weight pulls on the barrel every time you drive. Keep the car key on its own ring or with a light fob only.
Ignition problems a locksmith is not the right person for
Some faults look like a lock problem but are electrical. A car that shows a key not detected message with a new key battery, a starter motor that clicks, a flat car battery, or a steering column lock on a push start car that reports an electronic fault are usually for an auto electrician or the dealer. Many newer cars use an electronic steering lock with no barrel at all, so there is nothing for a locksmith to repair.
We would rather tell you that on the phone from the registration and the symptoms than turn up and charge for a visit that cannot fix the car.
Ignition and door lock repairs around Chelsea and nearby
We come to the car where it stopped: a residents' bay, a mews garage, a hotel car park or the car parks at Chelsea Harbour. From SW3 we usually reach Earl's Court and Fulham in 20 to 40 minutes and Pimlico in 25 to 45, and we confirm the time on the call.
For other vehicle jobs see the Chelsea car locksmith overview, and for homes and businesses our full list of locksmith services. Fixed prices for the jobs that have them are on our price list; ignition and car door lock work is quoted individually because the part depends on the car.
Common questions
Why will my car key not turn in the ignition?
Most often the steering lock is under load from the wheels, or the key and ignition barrel are worn. Turn the wheel gently while turning the key, and try your spare. If neither helps, the barrel probably needs repair.
How much does car ignition repair cost?
It depends on the make, model and whether the barrel can be repaired or must be replaced, so we price it on the phone from your registration before we set off. There is no call out fee.
Can you repair an ignition barrel without replacing the keys?
Usually yes. We repair or replace the barrel so it works with your existing key. If the key itself is badly worn, we cut a fresh one to the original code so key and barrel match.
Someone tried to break into my car and the door lock spins, can you fix it?
Yes. Report it to the police first and take photos for your insurer. We then repair or replace the door barrel and code it to your key so one key still fits the doors and ignition.
Can you fix a push button start that will not work?
Usually that is electrical rather than a lock problem. We can check the key battery and whether the car sees the key, but wiring and module faults belong with an auto electrician or the dealer.
My key snapped in the ignition, what should I do?
Leave the broken piece where it is and do not try to start the car. Call us; we extract it from the ignition and cut and code a new key at the car.
Related pages
Ignition or car lock playing up?
Call 07520 643913 with your registration and the symptoms, and we will tell you if we can fix it and what it costs.