Car Key Stuck in the Ignition? Here is What to Do
Getting one’s vehicle key stuck in the ignition is stress-inducing, to say the least. Chances are, this type of mishap might happen at the worst possible time, right as you are rushing to park your car and get to work or after you have come home after a long day. While getting one’s key stuck in the ignition is not an everyday occurrence, it is not uncommon. One’s car key can get stuck in the ignition for a variety of reasons. Regardless of those reasons, however, there are several things you can do as a vehicle owner if you ever find yourself in this predicament.
If your vehicle key is currently stuck in the car’s ignition or you just want to know about what to do if you ever encounter this issue in the future, continue reading. The following article will give you some helpful tips to keep in mind and things to try if your vehicle is currently stuck in the ignition or becomes stuck at some point in the near future.
Make Sure Your Car is in ‘Park’
Most vehicles come with an automatic locking mechanism that holds the vehicle key in place in the ignition while the car is running. Sometimes, this signal can become confused or may stay on longer than necessary, locking the key in place even after the car has stopped moving. This is especially true if your vehicle is not placed in park properly.
If your vehicle key is stuck in the ignition, take a deep breath and double check that your car is properly parked and turned off. Make sure the emergency brake is on, your headlights are turned off, and that the car is in park. Sometimes, when we are stressed out or rushed, we may forget these simple steps that are usually automatic. Take your time and refocus on the issue at hand. You may find that your key is easily extracted once you make sure it is placed in park and other mechanisms in the car have been switched off.