Ignition lock key broken and wheel lock on.

HappyRose_2

Ignition lock broken on Renault Clio. Key has snapped off.
RN1.2 was able to start it ok so I drove it back home yesterday.


About to drive to mechanic and discovered the wheel lock is on & can't turn key.

AA Won't help as car has to over a quarter if a mile from home address.

Any ideas on how solve, called shop they said magnet won't work. Car is renault clio manual.

Thanks

Stoke

You'll probably need to remove your steering cowell and turn it using a set of pliers, however I recommend popping onto a Renault forum to find out how you remove the cowell as they'll be able to give you detailed instructions.

colino

Persevere with the two broken parts that you have, pushing the bit you have down the barrel towards the broken bit and gently moving the wheel from side to side to get the steering lock off. Then you can drive it to someone who can repair it for you. (You normally have to turn the key to I or II to get the barrel out). Failing that you will have to pop the ignition with a slide hammer or take the plastic cowlings off and chisel the whole mechanism off.

forgotmyname

Remove the broken lock. Then you can take it to a garage. But if you get that done yourself then fitting a new or used one is a simple task.

And you just saved yourself a few quid.

pipmoss

You could probably remove the broken key using a junior hacksaw blade. Try to insert the blade between the broken key and the inside of the lock and keep moving the blade in and out ( you are trying to get enough of the key sticking out in order to remove it). If you are lucky you may have enough sticking out to grab hold with a pair of pointed nose pliers.

Of course only try this is you have a spare key.

Good Luck

:T:T:T

HappyRose_2

colino wrote: »

Persevere with the two broken parts that you have, pushing the bit you have down the barrel towards the broken bit and gently moving the wheel from side to side to get the steering lock off. Then you can drive it to someone who can repair it for you. (You normally have to turn the key to I or II to get the barrel out). Failing that you will have to pop the ignition with a slide hammer or take the plastic cowlings off and chisel the whole mechanism off.

Thanks for instructions - will try this in morning. Tried today no luck.
No idea what a slide hammer is and knowing my luck will prob break the whole damn thing.

HappyRose_2

pipmoss wrote: »

You could probably remove the broken key using a junior hacksaw blade. Try to insert the blade between the broken key and the inside of the lock and keep moving the blade in and out ( you are trying to get enough of the key sticking out in order to remove it). If you are lucky you may have enough sticking out to grab hold with a pair of pointed nose pliers.

Of course only try this is you have a spare key.

Good Luck

:T:T:T

Thanks mate. I happen to have two spares but only realised once cut they only open doors not ignition. So will not try this.

:T

HappyRose_2

forgotmyname wrote: »

Remove the broken lock. Then you can take it to a garage. But if you get that done yourself then fitting a new or used one is a simple task.

And you just saved yourself a few quid.

That would be terrific but beyond me. I got a quote of £140 (ouch) for someone from bulldog to come down remove lock and give a spar key, they cut blade and stick into plastic bit.

HappyRose_2

Well though nothing has changed I feel better knowing I'm not doing this on my own, Thanks MSEs you are truly amazing. Sad thing is there's prob a guy locally who could remove lock for a few quid but no way of making contact with such a person. Hmmm guess I am going to have to pay for a pick up and carry to mechanic.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

not all is lost.


I would try and disengage the lock by using a flat head screwdriver in the barrel and holding the wheel up slightly to take pressure off the locking mechanism once got the lock off and started get it straight to the garage

Richard53

If the steering lock is engaged, the key should be free to come out. It's the locking mechanism that gets bound up with the pressure of the steering, not the key. But easing the pressure by turning the wheel is probably a good idea in any case.

Tools to get the key blade out - a magnet is the usual first choice. Then I would go for needle-nosed pliers, or a pair of eyebrow tweezers (the ones with the flattened ends), or a slice of an old credit card down the side of the key, or the same thing with a thin coat of a tacky adhesive on it. If the credit card is too thick, try the same with a piece of thin card. Or a length of wire with a tiny kick at the end, just enough to catch the tip of the key. Basically, anything to grip the key so you can slide it out, the more creative the better.

Suggestions to remove the whole lock are probably not going to work, as the OP doesn't sound very confident, and removing anti-tamper bolts needs some serious tools and a bit of commitment. But once the blade is out, any decent locksmith could make a working copy. I would imagine a local garage would charge a lot less than £140 to come out and take the lock off for you, as well. Protip - have the car's V5C and some ID with you when they turn up, as honest mechanics aren't keen on removing locks from a car they don't know.