CAR KEY ADVICE
VW, Audi, Seat or Skoda Key Won't Turn? What It Means
If the key to your Volkswagen, Audi, Seat or Skoda will not turn, it is usually one of three things. Here is what it means and what to do.
A key that suddenly refuses to turn is one of the most common calls we take from drivers of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda cars. These four brands share a lot of the same lock and key design, so the causes tend to be the same across them. The good news is that most of the time the car does not need to go anywhere. We come to you and sort it at the vehicle, at the roadside, at home, at work or in a car park.
Before you do anything else, stop and put down the pliers. Forcing a key that will not turn is the fastest way to turn a small job into a snapped key and a damaged ignition. Read what usually causes it, what not to do, and how we put it right at your car.
THE CAUSES
Why Keys Stop Turning on These Cars
A worn key blade
After years of use the blade wears down. It may still move the lock but not far enough for the ignition to turn, or the transponder stops lining up so the car will not start.
A worn or jammed barrel
The ignition barrel itself wears or jams. The key goes in but feels stiff, gritty or loose, and will not turn to the start position.
A snapped key
A worn blade is more likely to snap, leaving part of the key in the ignition. The car is then stuck until the piece is removed and a new key is cut.
Any of these can happen on a Golf, Polo, A3, Leon or Octavia, and the fix is the same whether you drive a Volkswagen, an Audi, a Seat or a Skoda. We check the key and the barrel at the car and tell you which one is the problem.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Three Things to Avoid
- Do not force the key if it is stiff, you may snap it in the barrel
- Do not spray oil or lubricant into the lock, it collects grit
- Do not pull a snapped piece out with pliers, glue or a screwdriver
If the key has already snapped, leave the broken piece where it is. Trying to pull it out with pliers, glue or a screwdriver pushes it further into the barrel and damages the lock, which turns a key job into an ignition repair. Call us and we remove the piece without harming the barrel.
WHAT WE DO
How We Fix It at the Vehicle
We check the key first
A worn key is often the cause, so we check the blade and the transponder before we touch the ignition. If the key is the problem, we cut a new one and program it at the car.
We repair or replace the barrel
If the ignition barrel is worn or jammed, we repair or replace it at the vehicle. We advise on the day whether you need a new barrel or a new key, so you only pay for the work that is needed.
All of this is done where your car is parked, with dealer-level diagnostic equipment, so there is no towing to a dealer. We check your V5C logbook and photo ID before we start, and you pay when the job is done, by card, cash or bank transfer.
FAQ
Key Won't Turn Questions Answered
Key Won't Turn? Call Us Now
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