Ignition Repair Birmingham

Usually a worn ignition barrel. The internal wafers wear down over time until they no longer line up with your key. It can also be a steering lock that hasn't released — try gently rocking the steering wheel while turning the key. If that doesn't work, the barrel needs repair or replacement.

Not necessarily. If the key turns freely with no resistance, the barrel may have failed internally. But if the engine cranks and won't fire, or nothing happens at all, the fault could be the immobiliser, battery or starter instead. We diagnose the real cause before replacing anything.

We repair it where we can. Replacing the worn wafers inside the barrel is often enough and keeps your existing key. If the barrel housing itself is damaged or too worn, we fit a new ignition lock — and on many models we re-key it so your original key still works.

Often, yes. A stuck steering lock is usually linked to a worn ignition barrel rather than a separate fault. We free it without forcing — forcing can snap the key or damage the column — then repair the barrel so it doesn't happen again.

Prices vary by vehicle — a wafer repair costs less than a full lock replacement, and some models need immobiliser re-learning afterwards. Call or WhatsApp with your reg and a description of the symptoms for a fixed quote before we travel.

Yes — most ignition work is done at your location, whether that's home, work or roadside. Some barrels need the car in a specific state to remove, so tell us the symptoms when you call and we'll confirm the job can be done on site.