Ignition key snapped in ignition

My wife has a Nissan Micra and the front end of the ignition key has broken off and is still in the ignition. The remainder of the key still starts the car and she is able to carry on as normal. However, she would like to use the spare key.

Any ideas re- the removal of the broken part please?

Regards, Emrys Davies.

Reply to
Emrys Davies
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on 11/26/2008 8:38 AM Emrys Davies said the following:

Try a locksmith or the car dealer. The lock probably has to be removed.

Reply to
willshak

If enough of the key is accessible to start the car then you should be able to take needle nose pliers and remove it. Striker

Reply to
Striker

It is the main part of the key, the part which was retrieved, which starts the car. The part which broke off cannot be seen and I now learn that it is beyond a ball-bearing and spring in the barrel which is a sealed unit. It looks as if we shall have to leave well alone or spend £300.00 on a new barrel or about £100.00 on labour which may not be effective. Apparently they remove the barrel, shake it about and hopefully the broken off key will partly reveal itself and then be poked out with a piece of wire.

The car is about twelve years old so it and has had its best days.

Thanks, Emrys Davies.

Reply to
Emrys Davies

on 11/26/2008 3:43 PM Emrys Davies said the following:

So what you have stuck in the cylinder is the portion of the key that positions the tumblers so that the ignition cylinder can be turned. You can probably use a screwdriver to turn the cylinder, right?

Reply to
willshak

Dealers are not locksmiths, so they are doing it the hack way.

Find an older locksmith, someone with a little shop and old world ways. The old guys do some amazing things for short money. That ball and spring arrangement is part of any lock - a good locksmith can hold it back with half of his pick set and likely pull the remainder out with thin tweezers.

Reply to
me

How about cutting the tip of the other key off to make it the same length? Or make another key and cut the tip of that one off.

Reply to
Kadaifi

Yes, that may happen eventually. At the moment the retrieved part of the broken key does the job and this part of the key is quite sturdy.

Thanks, Emrys Davies.,

Reply to
Emrys Davies

This idea may be risky, try putting a very TINY amount of epoxy (super glue might be better?) or maybe JB weld on the part of the broken key you have now. Be sure the amount is so small that if it mates with the broken off piece NO epoxy will squish out gluing the key in the lock. Put the key in the ignition and put pressure on it from rubber bands or possibly a weight of some kind that will push on the key. Leave it alone until the epoxy is completely set (maybe a day or two?) and then gently pull out the key. M

Reply to
mike m

on 11/26/2008 8:38 AM Emrys Davies said the following:

Roll the car over on its right side so that the ignition tumbler faces down. Get in the car and tap the ignition switch with a hammer. :-) (All the sane answers have been posted so far. :-) )

Reply to
willshak

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