Key problem

[BIGRED]

Part of my ignition key has broken off in the lock! I can get it to work with a bit of jiggling. However if i lose the broken key i'll have to file down the tip off the spare! Anyone know how to get the broken bit out?

Thanks.

[LowTech]

Have used several methods with success in the past.

1. Fine nosed pliers, depending on how much you can see of the boken bit.

2. Magnet, on the tip of one of these tools for retrieving dropped screws etc.

3. Blu tack, thin piece stuck on other bit of the key.

4. Superglue, as 3 above, used very sparingly.

5. Taking out the ignition switch and shaking it.

Failing that clamp the ignition switch in a pair of mole grips and beat the hell out of it with a hammer. May not fix it, but you'll feel better. :p

Good luck.

[imago]

A locksmith will be able to extract it for you, it shouldn't be too expensive. They use a barbed spike and pull the key remains out. A bit like root canal at the dentist:icecube:

[Alan Bradbury]

www.howstuffworks.com has a lot on picking locks and will teach you how to use one of these:

http://lockpickshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=LS

Which should solve the problem for you, and who knows? Perhaps begin a whole new criminal career for you! :buck:

[Alan Bradbury]

Or you can make your lockpicks from bike spokes too fairly easily. Fun for the whole deviant family, you might say.

[mike tilley]

old hacksaw blades are better.....ahem :D