OT::Problem

Nancy Young said:

I know someone here will tell me ...

I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
drain the battery.

Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

Your first step is to confirm it broke off in the ignition.
If so, try and get it out with needle nose pliers.

If that doesn't work, contact a locksmith for a housecall.
No reason to tow the car.

Good luck with it.

--
Reg email: RegForte (at) (that free MS email service) (dot) com

Nancy Young said:

I know someone here will tell me ...

I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
drain the battery.

Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

Your first step is to confirm it broke off in the ignition.
If so, try and get it out with needle nose pliers.

If that doesn't work, contact a locksmith for a housecall.
No reason to tow the car.

Good luck with it.

--
Reg email: RegForte (at) (that free MS email service) (dot) com

"Nancy Young" <[email hidden]> looking for trouble wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I know someone here will tell me ...

I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
drain the battery.

Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

nancy

You will most likely have to have a new key made. It sounds like your key
broke off? Take some bubble gum (the good stuff, that gets real stiff when
you chew) and dab it into the ignition to get the part of the key out of
the ignition thingy. If you get it out... great (I think you can if you
persevere). Then get a spare key given to the spouse, child or whoever and
have another made. I've used this method a couple of times and it's
worked. If you can't get the key piece out, I'm not sure what you should
do.

Michael

--
Send email to dog30 at charter dot net

"Nancy Young" <[email hidden]> looking for trouble wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I know someone here will tell me ...

I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
drain the battery.

Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

nancy

You will most likely have to have a new key made. It sounds like your key
broke off? Take some bubble gum (the good stuff, that gets real stiff when
you chew) and dab it into the ignition to get the part of the key out of
the ignition thingy. If you get it out... great (I think you can if you
persevere). Then get a spare key given to the spouse, child or whoever and
have another made. I've used this method a couple of times and it's
worked. If you can't get the key piece out, I'm not sure what you should
do.

Michael

--
Send email to dog30 at charter dot net

Nancy Young wrote:
:: I know someone here will tell me ...
::
:: I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
:: apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
:: one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
:: the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
:: drain the battery.
::
:: Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
:: the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
:: be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.
::
:: I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
:: new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
:: seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
:: for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
:: out?
::
:: nancy

Do you have AAA or something similar? If so, your dues that you have
already paid will cover a locksmith's visit to your car.

That's not as rare an occurrance as you might think.

BOB

--
Raw Meat Should NOT Have An Ingredients List

Nancy Young wrote:
:: I know someone here will tell me ...
::
:: I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
:: apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
:: one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
:: the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
:: drain the battery.
::
:: Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
:: the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
:: be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.
::
:: I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
:: new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
:: seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
:: for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
:: out?
::
:: nancy

Do you have AAA or something similar? If so, your dues that you have
already paid will cover a locksmith's visit to your car.

That's not as rare an occurrance as you might think.

BOB

--
Raw Meat Should NOT Have An Ingredients List

Nancy Young said:

Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

try the ignition...it probably will turn and start the car..(I had a
car this way for more than six months).....then head directly to a
locksmith. Don't try to do anything yourself. Tried that once and
all these little springs came out of the cylinder.

Nancy Young said:

Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

try the ignition...it probably will turn and start the car..(I had a
car this way for more than six months).....then head directly to a
locksmith. Don't try to do anything yourself. Tried that once and
all these little springs came out of the cylinder.

Thank you all for the great suggestions and I do feel
better about the situation. I'll tackle it tomorrow, it's
dark out now. Would be nice if I just found the missing
part, then I would know it's not in there. I can't see it.

Appreciate it. nancy

In article <[email hidden]>,

Nancy Young said:

I know someone here will tell me ...

I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
drain the battery.

Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

Its hard to say without seeing the ignition. If a bit of the key is
extended out from the ignition, you might be able to wiggle it out with
a needle nose pliers. If you are not comfortable dealing with that
option, call AAA or other road side service if you have signed up for it.

Good luck!

In article <[email hidden]>,

Nancy Young said:

Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

My daughter's car has this problem. The key broke off in the ignition.
She just puts the stub in and it works fine. Be aware that anybody with
a screwdriver or coin can also start it.

--
Dan Abel
[email hidden]
Petaluma, California, USA

Hi Nancy,

You need a locksmith. They will be able to remove the broken off part
from the ignition and should be able to cut a new key for you. Keys
get broken off in locks all of the time, any good locksmith can take
care of this for you. I've worked for a safe and lock company, I
promise you this is a pretty run of the mill problem.

Jessica

Nancy Young said:

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

You only "assume" the broken off portion of that key is in the
ignition, perhaps it's in a door lock. Don't you have a spare ignition
key, you must... stick it in and then you'll know for certain... for
all you know that part of the key is on the floor somewhere... often
keys will develop a fracture and eventually just break off with the
slightest pressure, could even be at the bottom of your handbag or
wherever you carry your keys. Get out your spare key. I have two
spares, one in my wallet and one in my sock drawer where I keep all
extra keys, even those I've had more than 40 years and have no idea
what they're for... but just let me throw one away.....

If you discover the broken off portion is in the lock don't fiddle with
it or you can make it cost a lot more to repair... call the local
mobile locksmith... may cost you fifty bucks but better than $500 for
the dealership to disassemble your steering column, even if unecessary
just to pad your bill. Locksmiths carry sets of tiny spring steel
picks that can easily snag out stuff from key holes... and locksmiths
ain't interested in making a mountain out of a mole hill, they are not
going to even dream about taking your steering column apart. And if by
some strange set of circumstances you do not have a spare set of car
keys, get some, get two sets.

Sheldon

"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Nancy Young said:

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

You only "assume" the broken off portion of that key is in the
ignition, perhaps it's in a door lock.

That would involve me locking my doors, which I never do.

Quoted message said:

Don't you have a spare ignition
key, you must... stick it in and then you'll know for certain... for
all you know that part of the key is on the floor somewhere...

Not only have I torn this place apart looking for a spare, I did
the same in my little path from the car to my kitchen looking for
the missing part of the key, the business end. Somewhere in the
14 years or so I've had the car, the spare disappeared.

Quoted message said:

often
keys will develop a fracture and eventually just break off with the
slightest pressure, could even be at the bottom of your handbag or
wherever you carry your keys.

It was just in my hand.

Quoted message said:

extra keys, even those I've had more than 40 years and have no idea
what they're for... but just let me throw one away.....

Heh, my mil had a coffee can with a gazillion keys, when I was in the
process of selling their old house, I came up with new tortures I could
visit on that nice old lady, trying to open different doors with alllll
thoooose
keeeeeys. Was very happy to hand over that can at closing to the new
owner.

Quoted message said:

going to even dream about taking your steering column apart. And if by
some strange set of circumstances you do not have a spare set of car
keys, get some, get two sets.

You betcha.

Thanks everyone, for the advice, I feel a lot better and I will just
call someone tomorrow. Much relieved that it won't involve getting
a new ignition or something worse.

nancy

ancy Young said:

I know someone here will tell me ...

I got home today from the supermarket (no, I can't find
apple cider mix anywhere), brought in my stuff, remembered
one of my tires is quite low on pressure, let me go hook up
the air pump, I need the keys to turn the car on so it doesn't
drain the battery.

Well. My keys look funny. Very funny. The car key is mostly
the handle part, where is the rest of my key? Nowhere to
be found. I just walked in with them, nowhere to lose the key.

I have to assume the key is in the ignition. Even if I order a
new key, or find a copy, I won't be able to use it. Am I
seriously going to have to have my car towed to the shop
for a new ignition or something? Think they can get the key
out?

If the rest of the key is in the ignition, you may be able to stick
the rest of it in the lock and start it. Otherwise, call a
locksmith. They will come out and fix it.

Depending on the type of car, you may be able to give them the
serial number and they can get a key to fit it. There aren't that
many variations of keys. I was once using a friend's AMC Hornet and
discovered that the keys for my Gremlin worked in it.

BOB said:

That's not as rare an occurrance as you might think.

It's a new one to me!
--

Practice safe eating. Always use condiments.

I learned a lot yesterday, next time something like this happens
to me, I won't be so worried. The good news is I found the spare
key, which will have a couple more spare friends by the end of
today. Thanks a million.

nancy

I learned a lot yesterday, next time something like this happens
to me, I won't be so worried. The good news is I found the spare
key, which will have a couple more spare friends by the end of
today. Thanks a million.

nancy

Nancy Young said:

I learned a lot yesterday, next time something like this happens
to me, I won't be so worried. The good news is I found the spare
key, which will have a couple more spare friends by the end of
today. Thanks a million.

Well, did you try the spare... inquiring minds need to know... did it
go all the way in and start the car or only part way indicating the
broken off piece is in there?

A hint: having lots of other keys and doodads hanging from your car key
ring is what damages the ignition key and ignition key hole... it's all
that extra weight swinging around while driving... consider keeping
your ignition key on it's own ring/lanyard. This will also prevent you
from turning every key you own over to your friendly auto mechanic,
valet parking attendant, etc.... never ever do that... your house keys
can then easily get copied and then many months later when you are by
then unable to link up the incident your house gets burglarized... and
of course yoose know not to broadcast to everyone you meet when you'll
be away from home, on vacation etc... especially do not broadcast this
info to newsgroups... I still can't figure out what kinda pinheads have
to announce to the entire world when they won't be home . Actually
tell no one other than those who absolutely must know... like your
employer and those actually living with you... talk about your trip
after you return. Loose lips sink ships.

Sheldon