Skip to content Car key problems · Brisbane
If the key turns but the ignition barrel just spins freely, or turns without starting the car, the mechanism inside has usually failed. Forcing it further can cause more damage. This one almost always needs an automotive locksmith to inspect and repair or replace the ignition. Here is what is safe to note and how we can help across Brisbane.
These are the usual categories, not a diagnosis. A spinning barrel almost always needs inspection to confirm what has failed.
When another trade may fit: if the fault is in the ignition switch wiring rather than the mechanical barrel, an auto electrician may follow up, but the barrel and lock side is locksmith work.
Usually the internal mechanism, or the cam that drives the ignition switch, has worn or broken so the barrel no longer engages anything. It needs inspection to confirm, and it is almost always a locksmith repair.
Yes. We inspect it, then repair or replace the barrel and mechanism, and where possible key the new barrel to your existing key so you keep one key.
If the key can come out while turned, or it only starts sometimes, it is not reliable and could strand you. It is better to have it inspected before it fails completely.
Tell us your make, model and year and what it does. We inspect and repair the ignition on site across Brisbane.