If you are like most Americans, you likely spend a good majority of
your time in your car. Whether you are commuting to and from work or
rushing your children off to school and other activities, there is no
doubt that you and your family rely heavily on your car on a daily
basis. When a problem comes up with our cars, sometimes it can be
difficult to accurately identify the source of the problem. This is
especially true if you may be unfamiliar with the various parts of your
car and how they work.
One common problem for vehicle owners that
can be distressing and inconvenient is a worn out or broken ignition
cylinder. Your ignition cylinder is mostly hidden and involves the slot
for your car key, along with the inner mechanism, or cylinder that helps
turn your car on. Using your ignition cylinder happens any time you
turn the car on and off. Ignition cylinder problems are common for this
reason due to the daily use. There are several indicators you can looks
for and a few signs to be aware of that may signal there is a problem
with your ignition cylinder. Below you will find the most common signs
that your ignition cylinder is worn out, broken, or needs to be
replaced.
You Cannot Get Your Car to Turn On
There are a couple of reasons why your car may not turn on when you insert and
twist your key.
You might be thinking there is an issue with your car battery or some
other problem, for example. However, this is actually one of the most
common symptoms of a faulty ignition cylinder. Sometimes, if your
ignition cylinder has been worn down, your key will not be effective.
Ignition cylinders are used every time you turn on your car. So before
you assume that there may be a bigger problem with your vehicle, such as
a dead or worn battery, consider that your ignition cylinder takes a
lot of wear and tear and it is common to need to replace them.
You Cannot Turn on the Interior Lights or Electrical System
Usually
with one turn of your key in the ignition cylinder, you are able to
power on the interior electrical panels in your car without necessarily
turning on the engine. If you find that when you attempt to start your
car that you are not even able to get past one turn of your key and
light up your dashboard, then it is possible your ignition cylinder is
to blame. Similarly to when your car will not start at all, not being
able to have any power come on at all may signal that your
ignition cylinder is not working.
Your Key Will Not Enter the Slot or Cylinder
Let’s
say you try to insert your key into your ignition cylinder and you find
yourself unable to. This may mean that there is something blocking the
slot in the cylinder. It could also be that one of the smaller parts
within the ignition cylinder has come loose and is preventing the
cylinder from working properly with the key. Check to see if you can
visibly see anything blocking the cylinder entrance. Whether or not you
can determine if there is some sort of block, do not try to force your
key into the cylinder. This could cause unnecessary damage to your car
and ignition cylinder.
Read more on: What to Do if You Have Ignition Cylinder Problems
