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Ignition Repair and Replacement in Madison, WI
Key will not turn, is stuck, or the ignition is worn out? A local locksmith repairs or replaces it at the car. Serving Madison and nearby Sun Prairie, Fitchburg and Middleton.
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- Price confirmed before work starts
How ignition repair works in Madison
An ignition that will not turn is often a worn key or worn wafers inside the cylinder, not a dead ignition. A locksmith checks the key first, then the steering lock, then the cylinder. Many cylinders can be repaired and re-keyed to your existing key, which keeps one key for doors and ignition.
If the cylinder is too far gone, it is replaced and keyed to match. On cars with a push-button start there is no cylinder; a no-start there is usually the fob, the car battery or the brake switch.
Car Key Replacement is a referral service. We connect you with an independent locksmith who covers your area; that locksmith quotes the price, does the work and stands behind it. Arrival time depends on where you are and who is available, and you are told before you agree to anything.
What changes the time and the price
- Repair or full replacement
- Whether the key is stuck or broken in the cylinder
- Steering column design, which varies a lot by make
- Whether new keys have to be programmed afterward
- Where in the Madison area the car is, and traffic on I-90 and I-94 at that hour
Where we send locksmiths around Madison
Car trouble follows where people park. In the Madison area that means the lots and garages at Camp Randall Stadium, West Towne Mall and East Towne Mall, along with UW-Madison and Capitol Square garages, long-term parking at Dane County Regional Airport, and apartment and office garages across Madison.
On I-90, I-94 and US-12 Beltline, do not wait in a live lane for a locksmith. Get to safety, call 911 if needed, and have the car moved to the shoulder or the next exit.
What happens when you call
- CallTell us where the car is, the make, model and year, and what happened.
- Get matchedWe connect you with a locksmith who covers that area and handles your kind of key.
- Hear the price and timeThe locksmith tells you the cost and how long until arrival before you agree.
- Work done at the carThe locksmith comes to you, checks your ID and paperwork, and does the job on the spot.
What to have ready
- The exact location: street address, or the name of the lot or garage and the level.
- Make, model and year of the vehicle.
- Whether it starts with a key you turn or a push button.
- Whether you have any working key left.
- Your photo ID, plus registration or insurance in your name. If they are locked in the car, say so; they are checked once it is open.
Ignition Repair and Replacement questions in Madison
Why will my key not turn in the ignition?
Common causes are a locked steering wheel, a worn key, or worn parts in the cylinder. Try turning the wheel gently while turning the key. If that does not free it, do not force the key.
Is it the ignition or the key?
If a spare key turns smoothly, the first key is worn. If neither turns, it is the cylinder.
Can the ignition be replaced without changing my door key in Madison?
Usually yes. The new cylinder is keyed to match your existing key.
Who does the work in Madison?
An independent locksmith who covers the Madison area. We make the connection; they quote the price, do the job and are responsible for it.
More car services in Madison
Need ignition repair in Madison?
Call and we will connect you with a locksmith near the car.