Ignition Cylinder Problems

What is an Ignition Cylinder?

Your ignition cylinder is not something you are likely to be thinking about on a daily basis, if at all. Until, of course, the time comes when you inevitably find yourself being unable to properly use it. An ignition cylinder, or ignition switch as it is also commonly known, is a small, but critical part of one’s vehicle. It is the round, metal slot typically built into and on the right side of the steering wheel of most vehicles. When you insert your key into the slot to turn on your car, you are effectively engaging the ignition cylinder, which then allows for power to flow through the car’s circuits. The small cylinder-shaped device works by turning on the electrical systems of the car when the key is inserted into the slot and twisted.

Additionally, the primary purpose of an ignition switch is safety. A proper and secure key and lock system on your car is the best way that you are able to protect your car from theft. Understanding the issues that can arise with ignition cylinders will help save you a lot of time and hassle. Below you will find specific instances that might indicate there is a problem with your ignition cylinder.

Potential Ignition Cylinder Issues

Ignition cylinder issues are common. If you attempt to turn on your car and find yourself with one of the following problems, there is a good chance you may have an issue with your ignition cylinder or switch:

• Your car fails to turn on
• Your car stalls while you are driving
• Your key fails to remain in the “on” position in the switch
• Your interior lights and electronics do not respond when you insert and twist your key.

Car Fails to Turn On

There is never a convenient time for your car to fail to turn on. When you need to get from one place to another, there is usually a sense of urgency or time constraint. If you find yourself in this situation, there are a couple things you can do. Be sure to remain calm. This can be a stressful circumstance, even if it is resolved quickly. Once you have acknowledged that there is something potentially wrong with the car and calmed down, examine a couple of basics. Are you using the correct key? Are you turning the key enough? While these might seem like basic questions, when we are rushed or nervous that something may be wrong, we tend to make mistakes.

Try the same procedure again slowly and deliberately a couple times, pausing for a few seconds in between each try. Listen for any strange sounds coming from the car or any other oddities while attempting to turn the car on. These signals can help you identify if the problem is, indeed, your ignition cylinder so it is important to pay attention. If there is still no response, examine the entrance of the key slot. Is there anything blocking it? Does it look damaged in any way? If you’ve established that nothing is blocking the switch entrance, it may be time to take your car into a mechanic or locksmith to have the interior workings looked at.

Your Car Stalls While Driving

This is actually one of the most typical indications that your car’s ignition cylinder is worn out, although it can feel like the source of the problem is much bigger. Because this is a common problem, understand that it is not your fault if you find yourself in this situation if your ignition cylinder is, in fact, no longer working. The older your car is and depending on how often you use your car, this can add additional wear and tear to the ignition cylinder. While it may be inconvenient, the good news is that the ignition switch is easy to replace and affordable. If your car has been stalling while driving, take your car into a trusted locksmith and have the ignition cylinder replaced and to ensure that it is neither a battery issue nor some other problem with your car.

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What to Do in Different Lockout Situations

A lock out is probably up there with one of the last scenarios that you feel like dealing with this evening. After a long day at the office, you just want to go home, kick back and relax. You want to enjoy a warm meal and watch a movie. Or perhaps you want to spend quality time with your family and play board games. But then you get home and realize that you are locked out of the property. What are you supposed to do if you can’t get into your home? And no one else is around with the spare key? Well, you could opt to use keyless entry, which would prevent you from having to keep track of a key. But maybe you haven’t taken this step, so you are locked out of the house. There are numerous lockout scenarios that can come up, and Pflugerville Locksmiths is here to go over them with you. A person can get locked out of their car, home, or even their place of work. In any case, you will want to know what to do in different lockout situations. Read on for more information!

A Lockout Can Actually Be Dangerous

If you are prone to anxiety, then the thought of a lockout probably stresses you out enough. But if you find yourself locked out of your home or even your vehicle, you might begin to panic and have a hard time calming yourself back down. As a locksmith, we have received phone calls from locals who were absolutely frantic. They were so frazzled, for instance, that they didn’t realize they actually weren’t locked out at all because they had access to a back door that was unlocked. So, we urge you to take a moment to breathe and reevaluate the situation if you have not done so already. If you are truly locked out, then call a locksmith for help!

Do not try to break into a window or squeeze into a small space to get in, when a locksmith offering affordable deals is just a call away. You could end up getting stuck or hurt. Lockouts can actually be dangerous, indeed!

Automotive Lockout: What to Do

If you find yourself stuck (no pun intended) dealing with an automotive lockout, you should remain calm. Of course, if you need immediate help because someone like a child or pet is trapped inside the vehicle, call 911 or break a window if that makes sense to do. You don’t want to risk anyone’s health or safety. Temperatures inside a vehicle can get dangerously high in minutes – not to mention over the course of an hour. A person or pet could be killed, so it is important to call 911 for emergency help if need be. However, if no one is stuck in the car, you can take a different, less urgent course of action. The majority of locksmiths are available to provide assistance to you 24/7, so you can get help even in the middle of the night. This should allow you to avoid causing property damage by breaking a window if you just don’t need to do so.

Residential Lockout: What to Do

If you can’t get into your home, again, we urge you to remain calm even though we know this situation is not easy. If you are not thinking clearly, you might not realize that a back door like the patio door is unlocked. Or you might not realize that you can get in through the garage. There are many locksmiths who work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we are sure that you can find one in your area even if you are not in or near Pflugerville, TX.

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When you are looking for a reliable locksmith in Pflugerville, TX, your stop can stop right here at Pflugerville Locksmiths. With our team of professional locksmiths we can take care of your residential, automotive, commercial, and emergency locksmith services. Call us at (512) 524-3841 when you need a local locksmith in Pflugerville, Texas to assist with your service needs.

Our locksmiths have the qualifications needed to effectively address any of your locksmith service needs. We take great pride in the work that we do for you at Pflugerville Locksmiths. Visit http://www.plfugervillelocksmiths.net or call (512) 524-3841 when you need our services.

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When You Should Have Locks Replaced

Making sure that you have strong, stable locks on your doors will be the first defense against unauthorized intrusion. While it is important that you make sure all of the locks you have are always locked, you should know that even then, they can still be broken. There are plenty of situations that may call for a new lock to be installed. Whenever you do require new locks, give us a call at Pflugerville Locksmiths in Pflugerville, TX. Our professional locksmiths know how to replace your locks. You shouldn’t hesitate to have your home locks changed when you discover that you need new locks, if you don’t want to take any chances of a break in. You can’t just expect to receive the help of any locksmith service; you’ll need a responsive and effective locksmith service, such as the ones that you’ll find at Pflugerville Locksmiths.  

If you’re wondering when you should have your locks replaced, consider the following:  

Moving: If you’re moving into a new home, let us know about it and we’ll get on top of things right away. You can’t afford to leave the same locks on the door because the previous tenants may decide to return whenever they like. If you bought a home and there was a lockbox that contained the house key, this meant that any of those agents would be able to gain access into the home. Any of them could simply make a copy of the key and come back once you are all moved in. Even the previous owners or their family members might have a key to the house. It would definitely be in your best interest to have another lock installed to avoid the possibility of someone from breaking in. It’s often suggested that you do this even if your home is newly built.  

Worn Locks: If you have locks then you might already know that they all experience normal wear and tear after so long. Locks that are worn out and rusted can become very problematic. They are also very easily compromised. You should check your locks occasionally for signs of wearing, tarnish, and rust. If you discover these things then you need to contact a locksmith to replace these locks for you.   

You’re Home Has Been Burglarized: If someone has been able to compromise your locks this means they will definitely need to be replaced. Perhaps they have broken in through a window or basement. If you had a key lying around your home, they could have taken it or made a copy simply to come back later to steal your belongings. Make sure you buy another lock and have it installed as soon as possible.  

Lost/Stolen Keys: Your keys may have fallen into the hands of the wrong person. When you’re unable to locate your keys, don’t just assume that you have misplaced them. Consider the possibility that they have been stolen and don’t take any chances. Contact a locksmith right away to have your locks changed.   

New Renovation: Whenever you are having some work performed in your home by contractors, someone probably has a copy of the keys to your home. You can’t be sure that your contractor has been able to successfully keep your keys in their sight the entire time they have been working on your property. You might trust your contractor but it doesn’t mean that you can trust everyone who works with your contractor. It is better to veer on the side of caution.  

The End of Rental Agreements: Whenever your roommate has moved out or a rental tenant, you should have the locks changed. This helps to protect you and any new tenants or roommates that you move in later. You should do this even if the old tenant or roommate has turned in their keys. You just never know who else might have a key. 

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Transponder Key Problems and Solutions

Most people who own newer model cars will use a transponder key. If you’re able to push a button and unlock your car doors or start the engine, you have a transponder key. It offers a great deal of convenience for those who own one. Some will also let the owner open their trunk without putting the key in the keyhole. A transponder key has a chip that sends signals to the computer associated with their car. The signal is unique to only your car. As soon as the computer notices the signal from your transponder key it will unlock your steering column and activate the car’s ignition. 

Manufacturers are making this type of car key because they offer convenience and seem to be favored over standard keys now-a-days. Our locksmiths at Pflugerville Locksmiths in Pflugerville, TX can program and reprogram transponder keys. We do it practically everyday. Our locksmiths will tell you that owning a transponder key is more expensive than owning a standard key. This is for various reasons but one of them is simply because of the convenience they offer to motorists. However, as appealing as the transponder key might sound, there are some drawbacks. 

You would definitely want to consider having an extra transponder key programmed when you get your car. In most cases, the dealership will offer you an additional key. It they do not ask you about it, make an inquiry as to whether or not they would be willing to provide you with an additional transponder key. They are usually willing to do so to get you to buy a car. The reason we make this recommendation is because it would be less of an inconvenience to rely on a locksmith or a friend, who may have your key. You should negotiate with the salesperson about their throwing an extra transponder key into the price of the car. If you happen to experience any problems once you have your transponder key, instead of towing your car to the dealership, a locksmith service will usually come to your location and resolve the issue for you.

Transponder keys make stealing your car more difficult. Even though this is the case, if you ever lose your key or it is stolen, the car thief wouldn’t have a problem taking your car. If you are in a rush and your key falls out in a parking area, all the thief has to do is continue pressing the button until the right door is unlocked. Keep another transponder key so that we can reprogram it so that no one is able to steal your car with the existing transponder key.

Lost Transponder Key 

 

It happens to the best of us, lost keys! Yes, you might misplace your keys or simply lose them. Don’t panic, when this occurs, there are some practical options for you. While a standard key is definitely easier to replace, you can lose it too. The difference is that you can simply go to your local Wal-Mart and just have another key made. This isn’t the case when it comes to a transponder key. If you’re getting one from the dealership, you’ll have some red tape to go through. If you don’t know if you actually lost your key or it was stolen, you risk your car being stolen. You can call a locksmith to bring you another transponder key, which they will program on the spot. Don’t leave your car because if someone has found your key, as mentioned earlier, they can drive off with it. Be careful and cautious.

Things to Do If You’re Transponder Key Stops Working

 

There are several reasons why you’re key might stop working. Here are a few of them.

• Communication Problem

If your transponder key is not correctly communicating with the computer, this will not enable the features to work. The computer chip will need to be reprogrammed. A locksmith can come to wherever you are to program it from your location.

• Manufacturer Defects

When you have a manufacturer defect you might be able to receive another one if it is under warranty. If you find out that it isn’t, unfortunately, you’ll have to buy another one. Research where you can buy one that is affordable before heading back to the dealership where it will be most expensive.

• Something in Ignition

You may have something very small inside your ignition; this can create a problem with your transponder key. You can rely on a locksmith to determine what the problem is and remove it without causing damage to your ignition. They generally do not have to replace the ignition switch.

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7 Essential Security Measures For Your Home

Cameron Gibbs

Image Source: Shutterstock

Every now or then we keep hearing about the reports of burglary around our city or neighbourhood. More than 90-percent of the time, the robbery cases occur in the absence of homeowners. Either amateur crooks looking for opportunities or skilled burglars are behind such house break-ins. We have some tips on how to beef up the security for your home.

Burglar image from Shutterstock

It’s little easy to keep amateur thieves away from your house, but what about the pro burglars? They often thoroughly keep an eye on a particular home before targeting it. Therefore, the chances of robbery increase to a great extent. To be honest, if anyone wants to break-in your home bad enough, then they’ll surely find a way to get in.

So, what measures to take for protecting your house from such unwanted burglars? Everybody doesn’t have extra cash flowing in their bank account to drape their entire house with high-end security systems or install traps/land mines throughout the front and backyard. Well, it’s your home not any sort of demilitarized zone (DMZ), which require such high level of security.

Instead of converting your home into a complete FBI belt, you only have to focus on how you can make your house a less of a target than your neighbour. For that you only need a fully-protected security system that’s simple and affordable to install, but strong enough to immediately respond in case of housebreaking.

We’re going to acquaint you with few some technologically advanced home security systems to help you protect your house even if you’re away. Here are seven of the most essential security measures for your home that you should take now, without emptying your bank balance.

#1 Strengthen front door’s kick-in resistance

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Almost two-thirds of robberies are due to the door’s weak resistance and weak locks. Thieves can easily take advantage of such situation and break-in your house. It would be better to enhance strength of your locks by replacing the strike, mounting extra metal plate on the door jamb for sliding bolt into it. You can even replace short mounting screws with large screws to reach the door’s studs. It would add extra strength to the doorframe and prevent even the most serious attempt to break through.

#2 Install digital locks

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Replace weak locks, as these are the easiest way to access any home. Instead, invest in smart or digital locks. Smart locks are basically electronic devices that provide additional shield to your front door. So spending few dollars on a smart lock can prove more beneficial than a smart watch or any other electronic device.

Moreover, a smart lock means you don’t have to carry bunch of keys in your bag or pocket. This is because the latest technology allows you to simply synchronize your smart lock with your Smartphone, regardless of your location. In market or online you get wide range of digital locks to meet your needs. So no matter where you are and where you go, your home will always be protected with technology-integrated digital locks.

#3 Protect your abode with alarm system
 

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Home alarm system is a great way to scare off intruders when you’re not at home. Security alarms are installed to buzz soon after anyone tries to break-in. It will not only alert the police, but also drive an intruder from your home because they know police is on the way.

If you don’t want to invest in too expensive alarm systems, there are plenty of budget-friendly alarms in the market to meet your requirements. Many of these systems are integrated with an auto-dial system that contacts the appropriate authorities, so they can respond as soon as possible.

#4 Safeguard your abode with surveillance camera 

 

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Surveillance cameras are another good option to make you aware of what is going around your home. So, you can respond appropriately and inform police immediately to take quick action. Besides notifying you and capturing a video clip of any unwanted visitor, these cameras also record useful information for later use. There are wide varieties of home surveillance cameras available in the market, from the small and simple to the relatively complex systems.

Even Smartphone-controlled cameras are available, which instantly send you notifications on your mobile phone when any unwanted activity is detected in your house. It’s a smart way to keep an eye on your home even when you’re away. Whether you’re sitting in your office or out of town, these Smartphone-connected cameras always ensure safety of your home.

#5 Motion detector lights

 

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Motion detector lights are a simple but quick way to ensure no unwanted visitors trespass your property. These smart devices can quickly detect an unwanted activity and immediately inform the homeowners to further take appropriate actions. The motion detector lights are integrated with sensors to detect any change in movement within any specific area.

According to the built-in sensor, the device flashes certain lights in response to sudden changes. Changes in temperature, light, or sound waves can be detected by the device, so there’s no change that any intruder can get away easily. Moreover, the sensor-embedded lights are easy to install on any corner of your home, garage or backyard cabin. All you need to do is install the device onto any desired section of your house, activate it and finally you can relax- as the device will take all your worries regarding burglary or housebreaking.

#6 Integrate light timers into your house

 
Going for a long vacation and worried about safety of your home in your absence? Don’t worry, if you’ve smart light timers installed in your house. As these devices are app-controlled and can be monitored from any corner of the world, provided you’ve sufficient Wi-Fi connectivity in those specific regions. These timers keep the house looking occupied even without any human presence. The timers can be attached to different electronic appliances such as televisions, radios and lights. All thanks to the respective mobile app, these electronics can be turned on/off at predetermined times throughout the day. This would make the intruders feel as if the homeowner is present inside.

#7 Home automation

 

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Smart home automation is the futuristic technique to monitor overall activity of your home including security. This is one-time investment to install a smart hub into your home and rest everything in your house will be managed by the smart system. From your routine habits to keeping check on your house when you’re away, the home automation device can easily manage on its own.

On detecting any unwanted activity in your house, the system can send notification alerts to your Smartphone. Based on the given data and notification, you can take appropriate measures for protecting your home.

These were come of the important steps that you can opt for defending your home. With a strong home security system, you will certainly feel more confident and safe all the time. Besides investing in all these home safety devices, you also have to be alert and never share your home’s digital access with anyone, expect your family members. These simple yet beneficial tips and techniques will help you to keep intruders away and make your feel secure.

Cameron Gibbs is an Author and Business associate for Diamond Lock and Security, an Australia based locksmith service provider. He has extensive experience in the field of digital security solutions for homes and businesses.

Article Source: 7 Essential Security Measures For Your Home

Related Article: 3 Things To Help Prevent Home Burglary

If you want to tighten your home's security or make sure that locks and your security systems are properly installed, visit www.pflugervillelocksmiths.net