The need for car lock replacement doesn’t arise often. But when it does, it becomes a number one priority – assuming you treasure your car and want to keep it. You see, this need is an indication of car door locks problems. And that’s bad news for the car security. What should you do to be prepared for such situations? For starters, keep the number of an auto locksmith handy. For now, keep reading to learn the signs that might entail dangers and thus scream for the necessity of having the car locks changed.
Broken car door locks
It’s not always easy to tell if the car door locks are broken. You simply put the key in the lock but the key won’t turn. Or it won’t get inserted in the lock. This is a major problem, which might also lead to a car lockout if you don’t have a fob. But even if you do and that’s what you usually use, still the key must fit in the lock without force. Now, unless you are an expert, this is not a DIY task. Call a car locksmith. The first thing you want to see is whether there’s a problem with the key or the lock. And don’t jump to conclusions just yet. Even if the problem is with the lock, it might not need replacement. Some problems are solved with lock repair.
Stolen car key
Apart from having a car key made, you’ll need to see what to do with
the lock. With the car keys stolen, you have two options: lock rekey or change. Rekeying the lock is often possible but not always the best idea. That’s when the lock is in bad shape and this will give you the chance to replace locks. It’s vital to understand that the problem here is not so much that you are left without a key but that someone else is in possession of your car key. In other words, don’t overlook the problem and do nothing if you have a second car key. It’s best to get in touch with a locksmith to see your options.
Ignition replacement
For the majority of the cars, there’s one key for both the door locks and the ignition. Now, if the ignition key is replaced so will the ignition or vice versa. But this will leave you with one extra key – the original key that will now fit only in the door lock. And so, you will have to carry two keys: one for the ignition and one for the door. That’s inconvenient.
Of course, the car locks change cost is considerable. And so, if this is an old car and you are planning to get a new one in a while, there’s no need to get into the trouble of replacing the locks just to use one key. Auto locks change is mainly necessary when there are signs of problems that could lock you out or put the security of your vehicle at stake. In such cases, the best thing you can do is turn to a locksmith company since car keys and locks are not simple today. And the last thing you want is to make things worse by assigning the job to a handyman. The good news is that locksmiths charge less than dealers although the price is always subject to the car’s brand too.