Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Broke key IN ignition :help:

Hello all. Detail shop broke my key in ignition, and there is about 1/2" of key left in. I have the remaining 'short' key and it works just fine, while the regular length other key works the doors and trunk. I argued for an hour about it being their fault, and they insist the key was cracked and was not their fault. Rather than this be a discussion of who's fault and what I should do or say to them, I just prefer some suggestions on how to get the piece out.

Everything seems to work fine, I just hate carrying two keys around. It's a 98 EO and I dont believe PATS. Locksmith wants about $80 but can't guarantee success, hmm.

Suggestions? thanks in advance.

It was fine when you dropped it off. Then it was broken when you picked it up. How is this your fault again?

I think you have them over a barrel on this one.

I had a key break some years back in another car, with a portion still in the ignition switch. Had to call a mobile locksmith to the car and my wife at home to bring spare key. Locksmith picked out stub with no problem in about 10 minutes, minimum 1 hr trouble call. Root cause was crack in key.

BTW you should have PATS but the code is in the plastic part of key, you should be able to see a small rectangular insert 1/8 x 1/4" at end of key.

p.s. Problem with short piece is tumblers drop behind preventing a straight extraction. Each tumbler has to be picked, stub moved outward, pick again, etc.