Ignitions fail by degrees: the key needs a jiggle, then a wiggle-and-lift, then one day no ritual works at all. Because the ignition is a lock — wafers, springs and a cylinder — it's locksmith work, and Eagle Locksmith Virginia Beach repairs and replaces ignitions at the vehicle, across the region.
Diagnosis comes first. Sometimes the culprit is a worn key, not the cylinder, and the honest fix is a fresh key cut to factory pattern rather than a copy of a tired one. We'll show you which you're dealing with before any work begins.
Symptoms That Point at the Ignition
Key won't turn or turns only with force; key sticks or won't come out; key turns but the dash stays dark; the cylinder spins loosely or the key falls out with the engine running. Each pattern tells us where to look first.
- Key won't turn, sticks, or won't release
- Key turns with no crank or no dash power
- Loose, spinning or damaged cylinders
- Broken key fragments lodged in the ignition
Repair Where Repair Holds
Worn wafers and springs can often be replaced and the cylinder rebuilt to your existing key — keeping one key for doors and ignition. We rebuild when the housing is sound and replace when it's cracked, spun or previously forced.
- Cylinder rebuilds matched to your existing key
- Fresh keys cut to code when wear is the real story
- Steering-column and dash ignitions covered
Replacement, Matched and Programmed
A replacement ignition is fitted, keyed to match your doors where the vehicle allows, and — on transponder cars — the new keys are programmed to the immobilizer before testing. You leave with an ignition that turns like the car is new, because mechanically, it is.
- New cylinders fitted and keyed alike where possible
- Transponder programming included on chip-key vehicles
- Start-tested with you before we finish