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Car keys › Car key problems

Car keys · Brisbane · 24/7 mobile

Common car key, ignition and remote problems

Car key faults usually fall into a handful of categories. Some you can safely check yourself in a minute, some need an automotive locksmith, and a few point to a mechanic or auto electrician instead. Find your symptom below, see what is safe to try, and get a mobile locksmith to you across Brisbane if that is what it needs.

Reviewed by the LockOps automotive locksmith team · Published August 2026 · Last reviewed August 2026. General guidance only. A fault cannot be confirmed without inspecting the vehicle.

When to call an automotive locksmith

A mobile automotive locksmith is usually the right call when the problem is the key, the ignition, the remote or the door lock itself.

Keys and programming
Lost, broken, worn or unrecognised keys, and keys that need coding to the car.
Ignition and barrels
A key that will not turn, is stuck, or a barrel that spins without starting.
Remotes and fobs
Remotes that will not lock or unlock, and smart keys the car cannot detect.
Door locks and access
A door lock that will not turn, or being locked out of the vehicle.

When another trade may be the better call

Some faults look like a key problem but are not. We will tell you straight if you would be better off with someone else, rather than send a technician for a job that is not ours.

Mechanic
Engine, fuel, starter motor or gearbox faults where the key and immobiliser are fine.
Auto electrician
Wiring, body control module or electrical faults beyond the key and ignition.
Roadside assistance
A flat vehicle battery or a jump start, which often mimics a key fault.
Dealership
Some late model systems need dealer or manufacturer online access to complete.
To give you an accurate quote we need the make, model and year, the start type (traditional key or push button), how many keys you have and whether any still work, what exactly happens when you try, and where the car is. The more of that you can tell us on the call, the closer the price we can give you.

Car key problem questions

Can you tell me what is wrong over the phone?

We can give you the likely categories and a price range, but a fault cannot be confirmed without seeing the car. Tell us the make, model, year and exactly what happens, and we will tell you what is most likely and what it will take to fix.

Do I need a locksmith or a mechanic?

If the problem is the key, the ignition barrel, the remote or the door lock, it is usually a locksmith job. If the key turns and the immobiliser is happy but the engine will not run, that points more to a mechanic or auto electrician. We are happy to point you the right way.

Do you come to me?

Yes. We are a mobile service across Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs. We come to your home, work, or wherever the car is.

How much will it cost?

It depends on the fault and the vehicle. We give you a price on the call once we know the make, model, year and what is happening. There are no fixed figures on this page because a car key quote depends on your exact car.

Not sure what the problem is?

Tell us what your car is doing and we will tell you whether it is a locksmith job and what it will take.

Licensed Queensland Security Provider · QLD Security Provider Licence No. 4512789 · LockOps mobile locksmith, Brisbane · (07) 3524 8064