| Author | Message | ||
     Michael Huggins (Mike_h) Member Username: Mike_h Post Number: 42 Registered: 03-2003 |
Please advise, My key snapped off in my ignition on my 97 D1. The broken part went really far back where some of thwe tumblers dropped in behind it. I had a local locksmith come out and try to remove it w/o any succses. Other locksmiths won't work on LR's. Besides taking it to a dealer what options do I have? If taken to a dealership what would be expected that they do? I don't look forward to having the whole ignition replaced and matching door locks. How screwed am I? | ||
| Jamil Abbasy (Jamooche) Senior Member Username: Jamooche Post Number: 331 Registered: 05-2003 |
I had something similar happen 3 times on my Lexus RX300...the key would come out of the lock cylinder but the car would stay on. Reinserting the key and turning would do nothing. Each time they had to completely replace the key cylinder and then get it coded by a specialist car locksmith. Hopefully you are not parked illegally like I was one of the times... Jamil | ||
| Ryan Graham (Ryangraham) New Member Username: Ryangraham Post Number: 27 Registered: 01-2004 |
If a locksmith couldnt get it out then a lock cylinder is probably your only bet. I've been through about three keys. They keep cracking and I'm scared to lose one in the ignition. Sorry I can't be of more help. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 392 Registered: 08-2003 |
I have a friend that was a locksmith and he had a technique that may work. Over the summer when I worked at True Value, a lady came in and said that she broke her key in her ignition. He took a small thin file that would fit into the ignition and used a bench top grinder to shape it. When he was done it resembled a spear head that was cut equaly in half. He was able to slide this into the ignition and hook the key just enough to pull it out. I tried to draw what it looked like. I couldn't put it on here, so I tried to email it to you. Hopefully it worked. It just shows how much I know about computers.  Matt | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 730 Registered: 07-2002 |
My wife did that in our Saab - 150 miles from home, at night, at a gas station. The Saab's ignition is in the center between the seat, the idiot who came to get the key out and make a new one took one look and said he was confused... Had to have the car towed. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 841 Registered: 05-2003 |
Michael, I haven't broken mine off - but, from what my techs told me, they deal with that on a regular basis. They must have some simple(?) way to get it out because it didn't sound like it's a big deal to them. Good Luck, Jamie | ||
| Michael Huggins (Mike_h) Member Username: Mike_h Post Number: 43 Registered: 03-2003 |
Thanks all, Someone contacted me offlist who works for a dealership and gave me the name of the locksmith they use in cases like this which I will try. I tried using a skinny peice of wire used for welding and put a notch in it and yank the key back w/o any luck. the wire was small enough to go down the groove of the key too. | ||
| Tbow (Tbow) Member Username: Tbow Post Number: 176 Registered: 12-2002 |
Been there done that. Exactly the same thing happened to me. Locksmith couldn't get it out. I ended up taking the lock off the column and removing the tumbler assembly and pushed the key out from the back. It was surprisingly easy. Remove the steering column covers. You'll see three bolts without any heads holding the lock assembly. Take a small grinder i.e. dremel tool and grind a screwdriver slot on to the heads. unscrew the three bolts and you should have the lock assembly in your hands. On the side of the assembly, there should be a small plug, remove the plug and there should be a small pin right under the plug. (don't loose this pin). Remove the pin and using the rest of the broken key, remove the tumbler assembly by turning the key to the on position. Now you can push the broken piece of the key out from the back. Installation is just reverse. The pin can be held back in by a small screw or aluminum epoxy plug. The three bolts are just metric bolts. All told about two hours or work. Good luck. | ||
| Ryan Roundy (Rrefxut) New Member Username: Rrefxut Post Number: 27 Registered: 12-2003 |
Hey Tbow, great info, I have a '96 and have the same prob right now. I got the assembliy out, but on mine there were only 2 sheer bolts..., but now I'm having a difficult time finding the "pin" you reffered to. I see a large one on it's own on the side of the assembily, but have no idea how to remove it if that's what your reffering to. It has 4 little moulded in prongs holding it in, and doesn't look as though it was intended to be removed. Any additional help would be most appreciated. Also sent you an e mail, hope that's alright. Thanks, Ryan | ||
| Ryan Roundy (Rrefxut) New Member Username: Rrefxut Post Number: 28 Registered: 12-2003 |
okay, I got it... it was that pin, thanks again! |
