Vehicle ignition cylinders can often need repair or replacement due to various reasons. It might just mean that it has gone through some use and needs to be replaced before further use of a faulty ignition causes any damage to the vehicle, or it might be due to getting damaged because of external factors. In any case, it is ideal to replace it as soon as possible so that the use of it causes no permanent damage.
There are ways to identify whether or not you have a faulty ignition cylinder on your hands. Whether it’s because of wear and tear or, for instance, an attempted vehicle robbery, your ignition cylinder can become hard or impossible to use. For instance, let’s assume that you were having trouble with your ignition and you put the key in and out several times to get it to start, or continuously turned it clockwise and counter clockwise until the vehicle would start. This can cause considerable damage to the inside of the ignition and cause it to stop working.
Does the Car Stall or Not Start?
Ideally, having to attempt a few times to start the vehicle should be a little concerning and the ideal time to inspect and replace the ignition, but a tell-tale sign of an ignition with problems is when you turn the key and the car stalls or doesn’t start at all. You may think the battery is being troublesome or there is some other reason why the vehicle won’t start, but one of the first things to consider should be a faulty ignition cylinder. Enough power is not passing through the ignition to the car to start it and this may be due to a break inside the ignition. Having it examined immediately is ideal.
As mentioned above, if the problem is linked to wear and tear, you may find that your key doesn’t turn in the ignition or it doesn’t go into the ignition easily or at all. This is a sure-fire way to identify an ignition cylinder problem if you are sure that the key itself is not the problem, and you can get in touch with a professional, like someone at My Alpharetta Locksmith, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia, to advise you and help with the replacement of the vehicle’s ignition lock.
Flickering Dash Lights?
Another way to identify an ignition problem is by noticing flickering dashboard lights. This isn’t a very common way to identify the problem but can be linked to a problematic ignition cylinder. This will usually happen, in cases where it does happen, while the car is running. It may not be frequent but it is an important sign to know so that you can take your car to the professionals at the first sign of trouble.
