broken key in ignition...
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,295
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From: VA
Car: '91 Z28
Engine: L98 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 323's
broken key in ignition...
not my car, but my step-daughter's car... geo prism, i think. anyways, tip of the key is broken off in the ignition and the key still works to turn the ignition with that piece in there, but is there a trick to removing broken pieces or is it a pro only job? i don't have much time to work with, so i don't want to "finish" breaking what's already broken by not being able to get it out completely... thanks...
KAM
KAM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,995
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From: Toledo, OH
Car: 1992 Firebird
Engine: forged 357
Transmission: 700r4, 2200-2400 stall, vette servo
Axle/Gears: stock pegleg 2.73 drum (temp)
get a small screwdriver, flathead
get an old speaker or subwoofer
run the screwdriver in one direction over the magnet a few times
you've just magnetized the screwdriver
if your key has iron in it, you will recover that piece.
get an old speaker or subwoofer
run the screwdriver in one direction over the magnet a few times
you've just magnetized the screwdriver
if your key has iron in it, you will recover that piece.
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iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 955
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From: MA
Car: 1981 Chevy Malibu, 1987 Formula 350
Engine: 229 V6, L98 TPI 350
Transmission: TH350, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt ???, 9 bolt 3.27 posi
i dunno if it would be strong enough, but some rare-earth magnets (VERY strong, small, and inexpensive...radio shack) can pull just about anything from a few inches distance away....
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,108
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From: Kalamazoo,Mi,USA
Car: 84 Z28
Engine: L69: cam and porting
Transmission: T5, 3.73 rear
It's a brass key man, as mentioned above. 
Brass is not magnetic.
Try a dentist type pick, tool supply places would have them. If that doesn't work, take the ignition unit apart.
Brass is not magnetic.
Try a dentist type pick, tool supply places would have them. If that doesn't work, take the ignition unit apart.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 959
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From: So Cal
Originally posted by Tom84L69
take the ignition unit apart.
take the ignition unit apart.
TGO Supporter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 9,067
Likes: 1
From: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Car: '83 Z28, '07 Charger SRT8
Engine: 454ci, 6.1 Hemi
Transmission: TH350, A5
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi, 3.06 posi
Yea, just get a new key and ingition set.. they are cheap and easy to swap.
Supreme Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 1
From: St. Catharines, ON
Originally posted by demonchild
to hard man. new ignitions are 15 bucks at any local parts stores and most lend the tool needed to pull the ignition out and put in the new one. however if it still works and you still need the key to start it, why worry?
to hard man. new ignitions are 15 bucks at any local parts stores and most lend the tool needed to pull the ignition out and put in the new one. however if it still works and you still need the key to start it, why worry?
FYI
Thread Starter
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 0
From: VA
Car: '91 Z28
Engine: L98 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 323's
thanks for the replies... sounds like it'll be better off just to replace it... i just didn't want to get in there with some sort of make-shift tool, get the broken piece stuck elsewhere and then not be able to get the rest of the key in at all... and then be forced to change it out now...
KAM
KAM
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 959
Likes: 0
From: So Cal
i'm just take it out of the car and beat it ont he ground till the price fell out... if you get reallt pissed off and slam it into poces then go get the new one :-D
This is also a good option, but I paid $49 for my VATS ign. lock cyl.
FYI
FYI
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