- Damaged Lock
If your car key is not working when you attempt to unlock your car, there is a possibility that the lock itself is damaged. If you drive a fairly modern car, there is less of a chance that you will have to deal with this, which is mostly attributed to the presence of key fobs and keyless entry remotes. However, if you have an older model car that requires you to unlock your car door with your key, you might come across this issue a bit more often. It is very likely that your car key is not working because the lock is faulty, or worn down. Car door locks work in conjunction with keys, which means that if you are constantly using your car key to physically unlock your car door, the internal mechanism of the lock will wear out over time.
- Damaged Key
One of the main reasons why your car key might not be working is simply because the car key is damaged. When most people think of damaged keys, they tend to conjure up a picture of a broken key that is split into pieces. However, this is a grave misconception. A damaged key does not always have to be broken in place. If you take a look at the way car door locks work, you will come to understand this. The grooves in a key correspond to the internal mechanisms of the lock or the ignition that it is used for.
- Worn Out Key Fob Batteries
Another reason that your car keys might not be working might be because the batteries in your key fob or keyless entry remote are out of juice. This is a common problem, but one that has a rather easy solution. Batteries run out after a certain period of time, so diagnosing this problem is relatively simple.
- Faulty Ignition Cylinder
Your key is not only associated with your external car door locks, but it is also the tool that works in conjunction with the ignition. Car keys do not function alone. For every key that exists, there is a lock/mechanism that it is meant to function with. If your car key does not work when it is inserted into the ignition, it does not necessarily mean that your car key is faulty or damaged.
- Internal Damage To Key Fob/Keyless Entry Remote
As mentioned earlier, there are several different types of keys that each have their own unique function and traits. The key fob depends on communication between a transmitter and a receiver, so if one of these components is damaged, it means that your car key will not work the way it was intended. If there is something wrong with the internal electronics of your car, or if there is damage to either the receiver or transmitter, your car key will not work.
Conclusion
Car keys are an integral part of any driver's daily activities, so whenever your car key is not working, it can be a costly hassle. Taking the time to read through the points listed out above will help you properly diagnose the reason why your car key is not working. Hopefully, this will help you find the solution fairly quickly. Always remember that if you are unsure what to do, you should contact an automotive locksmith rather than tinkering around and potentially damaging your key, lock, or ignition.
