A bad ignition switch of your car is due to your attention which can hamper smooth riding. There is a special key that is required to replace the ignition switch. But it often gets lost leaving you with no options at all.
However, it is still possible to replace the switch. How? Let’s see how to replace the ignition switch without a key.
Ignition Switch Replacement
One of the most important parts of your vehicle is the ignition switch which puts the main electric system in action. In a word, it acts as a starter to start the car.
An ignition switch does the same for the car accessories like radio or power windows and therefore it’s incredibly important to ensure that the switch stays active. A faulty or dysfunctional ignition switch thereby interrupts the starting of your vehicle. That means your vehicle either takes very long to start or doesn’t start at all.
You should change a faulty switch immediately if you care about your car’s health. Because struggling with the starting actually affects your car battery and even damages it.
You can find the ignition switch just on the side of your steering or the column of the car dashboard. A faulty switch requires to be discarded and replaced as soon as it gets detected. You can easily make it happen with a key for the ignition switch.
Every ignition switch has a specific key that works only on this particular switch. Have you thought about what to do if you lose it somehow? Now, don’t worry because you can even change that without a key. So, let’s cut to the chase and see how one can do that.
How To Replace Ignition Switch Without Key
To replace your car’s ignition switch without a key, you have to follow the usual steps of replacing the ignition switch except for the method of removing the ignition switch.
Disconnecting The Battery
The very first step in this tutorial is to disconnect the battery unit, open your engine good, and locate the battery. You’ll see that the power source is connected by several positive clips and negative clips tightened by nuts.
Use a wrench to loosen the nuts and remove the negative terminal only. You don’t need to disconnect the wire connected to the positive terminal. Make sure to keep the cable connected to the negative terminal distant from the cell so that it doesn’t come in touch with the battery.
Expose The Ignition Switch
Secondly, remove the trims around its steering in order to expose the ignition switch. Now, you should be careful and not break any of the trim. You can use the help of your vehicle’s instruction manual to remove it properly.
You should also remove the steering if it interrupts the ignition switch’s pathway. This step comes in handy especially when one does not have the key because he/she has to use a drill afterward. Also, a wheel steering puller is required to effortlessly remove the steering. However, the process can change depending on the car’s model.
After that, you’ll discover an ignition module, in which the ignition switch stays. It might be covered with a plastic cover, release the clips, and remove the cover.
Removing The Ignition Switch
Now to the main step, you have to remove the ignition switch. As you know, an ignition switch generally needs a key to remove itself. But you can still get away with using a drill, screwdriver, and paperclip.
First, use your power drill in order to create a hole in the key slot of your car’s ignition cylinder. Then, it is required to drill it wide enough so that you can insert the screwdriver into it.
Now use anything to clean off the debris from the hole. Then take a paperclip and make it straight. Insert the paperclip into the hole and push it to the left cylinder of the ignition key. This will prevent the ignition cylinder from starting.
After that take a screwdriver and put it into the hole and push it to the opposite side of the paperclip. That means you have to push the screwdriver as far as to the right.
Now pull on both of the screwdrivers and paperclip to slide the ignition switch out of its place. So that is how you could successfully take out the switch without a key. After that, complete the following steps.
Installing A New Ignition Switch
By drilling and poking, you have pretty much destroyed the ignition switch, so you need to install a new one. As the old piece has no use now, don’t worry about it anymore. You can buy a new key according to your vehicle.
Take the new ignition switch and you’ll notice there is some sort of pin on the side of it. This release pin was the component that impeded the switch to come out.
Anyways, hold the pin and slowly glide the switch into the ignition module. Wait to hear a click to confirm the placement. If you don’t pull the switch out and try again.
If you’re successful with the placement, you’re all done. Then move on to the finishing step.
Testing the Switch
It’s wise to test the ignition switch putting all the parts back to their place in case the new ignition switch fails to work. Although you’ll need to complete the electric circuit.
After disconnecting the cable from the negative terminal of the cell, you have to carefully place it again. Now that you’ve reinstated the electric action, put the key into the ignition, and twist it to make an attempt to start the vehicle.
The proof of your successful completion of the steps is the ability to start the car without any issue. Put the trims and steering back to their place and enjoy your ride.
So now you know how to replace your car’s ignition switch even when you don’t have the key. This amazing short trick is easily doable by even newbie car mechanics too. Don’t miss out to try this easy trick next time your ignition switch goes bad. Until then, happy riding!