Drivers are urged to recognise the early signs of failing car locks before they lead to a breakdown
Most car locks don’t suddenly stop working without warning, whether a driver cannot open the door, isn’t able to turn the key in the ignition, or discovers a remote fob isn’t responding. In almost every case, there will be indications that something isn’t right long before this.
Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security, an experienced specialist in automotive key replacements, advises that recognising earlier symptoms is the best way for drivers to avoid inconvenient breakdowns, emergency callouts at the worst possible time, and the cost of more extensive repairs.
One of the biggest mistakes is getting used to a key that needs to be jiggled, a fob that needs to be pressed a few times, or an ignition that sticks. There is very little likelihood that the problem will fix itself, which means, from an auto locksmith’s perspective, a call out is only a matter of time.
Why Car Locks Tend to Fail Gradually Rather Than Suddenly
Locking mechanisms and ignition barrels can often be used thousands of times and remain in good working order. However, issues such as exposure to moisture, heat and cold, dirt particles in the air and road spray, and general wear and tear with age slowly contribute to the lock becoming less efficient.
Seasonal weather can accelerate wear on locks and keys. During winter, moisture that finds its way into a lock can freeze overnight, making the mechanism feel stiff or preventing the key from turning.
In warmer weather, dust and grit can build up inside locks, particularly on vehicles used for work or parked outdoors. While these issues might seem temporary, repeated exposure to the elements can gradually increase wear and make an existing problem more noticeable.
Over time, the lock might become worn inside the mechanism, or the electronics in remote key fobs could start to wear. This is why locks don’t typically work perfectly one day and fail the next but give most drivers ample warning that a problem is developing.
While it would be impossible to list every potential sign of an impending lock failure, some of the most common include the key becoming harder to insert, and the lock or ignition feeling stiffer and harder to turn.
Drivers could find that a remote fob seems to work intermittently, or they need to try several times to activate the central locking. Other signs include sticking keys that need to be jiggled, and any unusual noise, such as grinding and clicking.
In every case, the best advice is to have the key and locks looked at as soon as possible, because continued use could make the problem worse, and forcing the key in the ignition or lock could cause the barrel itself to break, or the key to snap. This turns a routine lock or car key replacement into a more complex repair job.
Reasons Drivers Shouldn’t Wait to Address Problematic Car Locks
Many drivers adapt to small problems without realising. A key that only turns after being jiggled slightly or a remote that works on the second attempt soon becomes part of the routine. Because the lock still works eventually, it’s easy to assume the issue isn’t urgent. Unfortunately, that’s often the stage at which a relatively straightforward repair could prevent a complete lock failure later on.
The best-case scenario is usually for a lock to stop working at home, parked in a garage, driveway or roadside within proximity of your property. While this may cause issues with getting to work or school, or completing your routines, there is less inconvenience with being stranded at home than elsewhere.
Leaving the lock to become more damaged might mean this same problem becomes far more serious. Urgent callouts might be very late at night, in a supermarket car park, miles from home, or on a major road where being broken down is far from ideal.
In addition, the underlying fault isn’t always necessarily with the lock, even if this seems to be the source of the problem. Wear to physical keys, damage to a fob, a flat battery in an electronic key and wiring faults inside the car could all be the culprit.
Diagnosing the root cause is essential, as this often means the fix is faster and more cost-effective, especially if there is something wrong inside the wiring that could cause more problems if left unaddressed.
When Drivers With Sticky Locks or Keys Should Contact an Auto Locksmith
Car locks often choose the most inconvenient moment possible to fail, and even if a key still works with a little manipulation, the advice is always to have the issue looked at right away.
Drivers sometimes assume that because one door still unlocks normally, the problem can’t be serious. In reality, individual locks and barrels can wear at different rates, meaning one faulty door lock may be an early sign that another component is also beginning to deteriorate.
Even drivers of newer vehicles aren’t immune to lock-related issues. Keyless entry systems, remote fobs and central locking all rely on electronic components that can develop faults. While the symptoms may differ, intermittent locking and unlocking or warning messages should never be ignored.
There may also be knock-on impacts if locks keep being difficult to use. If the key sticks, the lock jams, or the ignition becomes unreliable, drivers may find themselves unsure whether they can undertake longer journeys with confidence or worry about an ignition that might fail at a motorway service station.
Auto locksmiths can attend callouts at almost any location, including your home, place of work, a roadside breakdown location, or a car park. They carry diagnostic tools and technical equipment that enables them to identify the issue and recommend the right solutions.
That may involve replacing a damaged lock or ignition barrel, cutting and programming a set of replacement keys, regaining entry to your vehicle, using specialist tools to avoid any damage, or advising if there is a more complicated electrical fault that may need attention in a workshop.
In any case, their expertise is best deployed at the earliest point possible, and well before drivers find themselves in the difficult position of being locked out of their cars, or unable to complete their intended journeys, when this may have been fixed relatively easily some weeks or months before.
About Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security
Eydens Auto Locksmiths and Vehicle Security have over 20 years of experience and are members of both the MLA and the ALA, providing auto lock and key services to motorists in Coventry, Rugby, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Kenilworth, Leamington, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick.
