If you're lucky, the broken tip will come out as well. Push the putty into the key slot and allow it to sit for a few minutes, then pull it out. If available to you, you can try using a very sticky or tacky putty to remove the key fragment. Once it's caught on the key, pull straight outwards to remove the key. Once far enough into the lock, twist the paperclip downward to grab the back of the key. Some items that can be used for this are:īent the paperclip into a straight line and insert it into the keyhole slightly above the broken key fragment. Don’t use pieces that have value to you, as they’ll likely become bent during this process. You’ll likely lose grip on the key with these separate pieces, so just repeat the process until the key is out entirely. Slowly pull the broken key straight toward you. Line these pieces of metal on both flat sides of the key, and only insert it far enough to get a firm grip on the end with your tools. Try the “Probe and Pull”īy taking two thin pieces of metal, you can probe the keyway and slowly pull out the key fragment. Make sure that your tweezers can open wide enough to fit around the key, but not so thick that they cannot fit along the sides of the key, otherwise you risk pushing the key in farther. Consider first how thick the tweezers are, and how far in the key fragment is inside of the lock. If you don’t have needle nose pliers, another item frequently found in households that can be used to unlock car doors are tweezers. Note: If you’re planning on using the glue or sticky putty method first, don’t use lubricant on the lock just yet. After spraying the lubricant into the keyhole, be sure to wipe up any excess around the lock before getting to work. Professionals typically use a dry lubricant because it won’t make the keyhole grimy over time, but if you’re in a pinch, an oil-based lubricant can do. Apply oilīefore removing the broken key from your car door lock, spraying an oil-based lubricant like WD-40 inside of the keyhole can make it easier. However, if you do manage to get a good grab on the end of the broken key with your pliers once aligned, you can try pulling the key out of the slot at a straight angle. The easiest way to fix this is to use a pair of needle nose pliers to reach inside the cylinder and turn it slowly to the locked or unlocked position.īe careful not to jam the key further into the lock or to twist the key itself, as it could break even more. If your key broke while turning the lock, the fragment will be very hard to remove from this halfway position.
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