What to do about car key stuck in ignition

Yes, it happens to the best of us! You hop in your car and plan on driving somewhere; it may be to work or to a nice planned dinner. Your mind is on your destination and what you will do once you get there. Alas; it is not to be! At least not this time, anyway! This is because your ignition key wouldn’t turn, or even come back out! It’s a frightening feeling knowing that you can’t start your car or even leave it and lock it! How can you? If you can’t remove the ignition key, how can you lock the door? Should you try and apply more pressure? If you apply just a little too much, your key might break off and then you’ve got more problems, like key extraction, new keys duplicated and programmed, and the all the time and expense those tasks bring you. Now you’ve got a headache!

It’s bad enough if the above scenario happens at home, but what if you are not at home? What then? It’s not like you can drive home and figure it all out; remember; you can’t even lock the car up! Our Dorchester Locksmith pros get calls like these all the time. Sure, you can call our technicians but what if you don’t live in the metro Dorchester, Massachusetts area? What then? Here’s what you do. Read this entire post and then just follow our advice! Can it be that simple? It sure is.

Start with these two steps

Don’t get too excited; we are not quite to the point where we get that key released! You may or may not need a locksmith but for sure you need to follow these next two steps. Here they are: 1) Relax and take a deep breath. By doing so, you will start to calm down a bit. It’s hard to do anything while being so wound up and stressed. Not only do you not think clearly, but you could make the situation worse by making irrational or wrong decisions. A clear head is needed right now and one easy way to attain this is to relax and take a few deep breaths. 2) You’ll want to apply the parking brake as soon as possible. At first thought, you are not going anywhere if the ignition key won’t turn or come out, so why on earth would you need to apply the parking brake? Here’s why. You will be trying a couple of things to see what the problem is and you don’t want the car rolling forward or backward during this time. The simple act of applying the parking brake can prevent accidents and even deaths so take that breath and put on that brake!

Now for the good stuff!

Are you ready to release that key? Try this first. Move the key back and forth gently to see if that releases it. If not, don’t force it! Try checking your gears and make double sure that you are in PARK and no other gear! Your car has a built-in safety mechanism that prevents the ignition key from being released if your car is not in the right gear. In this case, “almost” is not good enough! You have to be in PARK and not in NEUTRAL or DRIVE. Check now and see. (You did put the parking brake on, didn’t you?). Next….

Did that work? Is your ignition key released? If so, happy driving! If not, we need to move on to the next step. Try moving your steering wheel back and forth. Many times, steering wheels will lock up if too much pressure is applied to them. It’s so easy to lean a little too hard on the steering wheel while getting in or out of your car. This may cause the steering wheel to lock up and if it does, it also locks up the ignition, including the key. Many times our automotive locksmiths have been called for this very thing. Across the nation, AAA gets calls for ignition key/steering wheel lock ups all the time. Just apply a little pressure on the steering wheel and it will unlock. Be firm and move that steering wheel back and forth.

Battery check

Did that work? If not, your next step is to do a simple battery check. If your battery is drained, there won’t be sufficient power to allow the whole transponder key signal process to take place and neither your ignition nor your transponder key will work. Do a simple check to see if your headlights, radio or windshield wipers work. If they do, your battery is fine, if not, you’ve found your culprit.

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What is Access Control?

Deter criminal activity. If potential robbers, vandals, and arsonists discern the level of your access control system, they’re bound to stay away. The correct level of access control – based on your location, your industry, your activities, and other requirements – will make anyone with criminal intentions think twice and move on.

If you’re any place in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and considering setting up an access control system for your home or commercial property, you may want to begin by scheduling an appointment for a free consultation with a reputable company that’s open 24/7, such as Dorchester Locksmith. It’s best to hire a reliable expert who will help you figure out your specific security needs and desires, and then guide you to the perfect way to implement each aspect of your requirements within your budget. Once your system is installed, tested, and up and running, you’ll also need the expertise of a security professional who will demonstrate how to effectively utilize the access control system. Make sure the security company you choose is available to provide assistance 24/7 in case you ever need help.

Building safety. Customize your access control system to your location, as well as to your line of business. For example, you can prevent an industrial accident from occurring by controlling the number of people who are allowed to enter a hazardous area. Similarly, you can limit the number of persons (in a theater, church, or nightclub for instance) so you know you’re adhering to the fire code.

Tracking information. You can record activities digitally and electronically for future reference when you track certain points of information, which can be used to conduct investigations and create reports. You’ll prevent unauthorized personnel, unwelcome visitors, and potential thieves from entering your property or its restricted areas. You may also be able to help people who encounter trouble, since you can quickly identify them, and see their precise whereabouts. Of course, the same goes for detecting and tracking down an intruder.

Various Kinds of Access Control Systems

Intruder detection. Alarms and motion detectors will alert you if an intrusion is detected at a particular area or point of entry. They can be inside or outside, depending upon where you most require protection. Gate entry. A security gate gives you the ability to monitor the movement of anyone who enters and leaves. You’ll provide each person with the correct level of security clearance based upon a list of criteria for entry, which you create.

Surveillance cameras. A video surveillance system is a good idea for a high-security area. The requirements of your property will determine the level of image resolution you need. Ask yourself questions about additional necessary aspects of your system’s set-up. First, do you want to record and keep 24/7 video footage of all movement? Furthermore, do you desire software that allows sophisticated capture capabilities? These include time-and-date stamp code, facial recognition, vehicle number plate recognition, or other high-security monitoring and access control functions.

Biometric measurements. ID cards, keys, user names, smart devices, passwords, etc. can be forged or stolen by professional criminals. However, biometrics can’t be counterfeited. A biometric reader scans a person’s distinct features. Modern basic methods of verification are fingerprints, handprints, or an eye scan. Other biometric measurements, which might become more common before you know it, are voice print recognition, ear scanning, even DNA sampling and heartbeat identification. Accordingly, if you need extraordinary security at your property, biometric readers will definitely take access control to a whole new level, restricting imposters. With the superiority of biometrics, you’ll be utterly sure that only individuals with acceptable clearance will gain access to any sensitive area.

Points to Consider before Establishing an Access Control System

When you set up your access control system properly, you’ll keep your building completely safe and secure. You’ll control the movement of everyone entering or leaving. To best decide how you’ll arrange your access control system, it’s important to set all the criteria for particular individuals as well as for categories of people – employees, security guards, visitors, delivery people, VIPs, and so on ~ who will be allowed various levels of access.

Make a list of restrictions for each sort of access: Some people will have permission to go almost anywhere (full access); some will be allowed limited public access (partial access); and some will be given permission to enter highly sensitive areas (high-security clearance).

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Security for Residential Property

You want to put together the best possible security for your home. You deserve peace of mind, and with the latest security solutions for your residential property, you can attain this feeling. You might not know precisely what you want, or maybe you know you want some sort of alarm options and cameras. Perhaps you just want to upgrade the current locks you have in place. Either way, we recommend reaching out to someone who specializes in locks and security – a locksmith!

Keep reading no matter where you are, because the information we cover here should help you!

Have a Locksmith Come Out

Whether you have privacy concerns, or your property was broken into, or you are merely taking the right steps to prevent something from going wrong, having the right home security solutions in place is important. But how can you know what you will need? We urge you to get on the phone with a locksmith. The reason being, a lock and security provider can come out to offer an inspection, and generally speaking they will offer a free consultation, too. This can allow you to learn more about what is available. And you will know you are getting accurate information.

Having the right residential property security services in place can help you to avoid a break-in. When a criminal sees you have features in place like sturdy locks or cameras, this could serve as a theft-deterrent. It’s better to be safe when it comes to the things that matter most to you. Moreover, certain features can allow you to monitor who is entering your property and you can even be left with video evidence if something goes wrong. There are so many options to choose from, and we are going to go over some of them here. You want to take control over your security, and with these solutions, this is exactly what you will be able to do.

Rekey Your Locks. In what case should you think about having your locks rekeyed? If you have locks that aren’t destroyed or otherwise damaged, rekeying is a possibility that can save you a bit of cash. The old keys will no longer work with the lock if you do this.  

Switch to Keyless. Keyless systems tend to be very popular with customers, who feel an overall better sense of security with them and who enjoy their convenience. There are many brands offering keyless systems, like Kwikset, for example. You have options such as auto-locking systems, smart deadbolts and more. Going keyless means eliminating lockouts. It means not having to use a standard key. You can even use your phone to operate the system. If any of these things sound appealing to you, then you might want to consider going keyless.

Buy Child-Proof Locks. When you have a small child, you need to baby-proof your home. This can mean many different things, but one thing we recommend is making sure they can’t get into things, like drawers with scissors or cabinets with chemicals in them. We also encourage you to consider the importance of locks they can’t manipulate for your front door. Through a locksmith, you can get locks for file cabinets, locks for drawers and you can inquire about child-resistant locks for your front door. There are child-proof door lever locks and so on. You are sure to find an option for you that brings you peace of mind.

Invest in Deadbolts. From single cylinder electronic deadbolts and key control deadbolts to double cylinder deadbolts and interlocking deadbolt locks, you have plenty of options to secure your home.

Upgrade Those Locks Maybe going keyless isn’t quite for you but you still desire to have a secure way to protect your residence. We get it. You might want to think about upgrading the locks you have. There are so many options, materials, brands and so on that you will find there is no shortage of options. This is a simple security upgrade for your home and can give you peace of mind and comfort. Ask a locksmith about brands they recommend or if there is a certain material you should look at.

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