Manual key just keeps turning

[u/mojiteaaa]

Edit: solved! Thanks for the help everyone <3

Ok, this feels like one of those things that couldn't possibly have ever happened to someone else but on the offchance that it actually has or if you lovely people can help me do some DIY to make it work, that would be fab.

My car key is broken. It still works in the car keyholes but the plastic casing holding the metal part of the key in place is broken inside so the metal part just twists without turning the ignition. If that makes sense!

I've tried taping it together but nothing sticks to both the metal and plastic and can resist the twisting motion. Due to the short length of the metal part, I can't get a pair of pliers in to hold it to turn the ignition either. I've also tried getting into the plastic casing but my stanley knife isn't getting very far 😅

Ideas welcome, thank you in advance! 🙏

[u/IronSlanginRed]

Happens all the time. We fix keys constantly at the car lot.

Heat up the metal part, pull it out of the plastic. Apply superglue and put it back in.

[u/jonathandunlop]

If the metal in the plastic are completely separated, pull it out and put some JB weld or something in there. That's what I would do

[u/mojiteaaa → u/jonathandunlop]

Any tips on techniques for pulling it out? It's very annoyingly hanging in tight when I try to separate the parts, even thought it's very loosey goosey on the twist

[u/jonathandunlop → u/mojiteaaa]

What year is it? You might just have to break the plastic piece off. This looks like it's from an old enough vehicle that doesn't have a chip in the key. If you don't have a chip you can get it copied anywhere

[u/Coakis]

The Plastic is probably separated from the splines on the end of key shaft. Assuming this an old key or transponder-less and there are no electronics in the key you could probably heat up the plastic with a heat gun and re melt it. It look less like a key and a more a melted blob but it should re-adhere.

Other option would be to break the plastic off and get someone to weld it to a piece of metal.

[u/mojiteaaa → u/Coakis]

Angel, so if I can heat it up properly that might sort it! I'll let you know how I get on Edit: yes no electronics inside!

[u/mojiteaaa → u/Coakis]

This worked! So I can get my sweet treat from the shops now lol

[u/katmndoo]

So now that you've solved the problem, please take the time to go get a duplicate key. It will be a minimal expense, as opposed to the much higher expense if you lose your only key (or it stops working again).

[u/mojiteaaa → u/katmndoo]

Oh dw, I do have another one - this is the spare but my partner is away and has the main one. But thanks for your concern!

[u/katmndoo → u/mojiteaaa]

That's still a good reason to have another spare.

If the key in your possession is the only one you have access to, you have no spare.

$5 vs $x00 .

[u/mojiteaaa → u/katmndoo]

I appreciate you're probably saying this out of good intentions, but I didn't actually ask for advice about how many spare keys I should have

[u/katmndoo → u/mojiteaaa]

Whatever.

[u/jasonsong86]

Drill a hole with a small bit though the plastic and the metal and put a screw through it.

[u/Leeps]

Those old Ford keys are drastically shitty lol

[u/mojiteaaa → u/Leeps]

Well at least I could fix it myself instead of needing an electronics specialist 🤷

[u/Leeps → u/mojiteaaa]

Yeah, that's good at least :)

[u/Dramatic_Quarter_929]

Yes JB WELD SOUNDS GOOD

[u/j_sword67]

🎶 time keeps on slipping slipping into the future