Ford Ignition Cylinder Solution

As a locksmith technician with many years of experience in the field there were many times I ran into common issues with certain vehicle makes and models. The issues will mostly be related to the ignition system of the vehicle. Whether if its the switch, cylinder, key, or all 3, I found that there is a solution around for most issues. However, many times, these types of issues can throw the beginner locksmith technician off track chasing solutions that not only will add the cost to the service, but also most likely wont solve anything.

One time I remember getting a call from a customer who had some issues with getting the key to work the ignition switch of his 98 Ford F-150. According to him he recently had a hard time removing and inserting the key to the ignition switch. Back then, I did not have much experience working with vehicles' ignition switches, but for me it didn't seem such a big deal, I figured that the cylinder probably just needed cleaning inside it.

The first thing I did once I got to the customer's location was grabbing a bottle of WD-40 and a key blank to assist me with the cleaning process of the cylinder. After I finished the cleaning process, I noticed that there was no improvement in the function of the key with the ignition cylinders. Before making other conclusions, I decided to call a Spokane locksmith co-worker of mine to see if he had any insights regarding the issue at hand.

According to my co-worker, this type of issue was very common with Ford 10 cut ignitions. Apparently the ears on the switch tend to become loose from constant force being applied using the key when operating the ignition. He mentioned that there was no official fix for this type of problem, so the plug would need to be replaced with a new unit which meant I had to go to the dealer and see if they had one in stock. Unfortunately they didn't have the part I needed in stock and since the customer could not wait few days for the part to arrive, I went with an aftermarket cylinder plug which tuned out to be more rigid and according to the customer the issue did not came back.  

Automotive Broken Key Extraction

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Unlocking a Lexus

Lockout services are probably the majority of work an average locksmith technician will do throughout his career. Most of the lockout services most likely will be automotive. Unlocking a a vehicle can vary from vehicle to vehicle. In fact, there are some models in the market that are almost impossible to unlock. There are many types of specialty tools a locksmith will use in order to unlock a vehicle depending on the model. However, not all the time the intended specialty tool will help.

I had a customer called a while back claiming he locked the keys inside the vehicle by mistake. The vehicle was a 95 Lexus. I've done many types of vehicles before, but never a Lexus. Figuring there was a first time for everything, I decided to take the job, got the customer's info and headed his way. Once I got to the customer's location, I reviewed some of the automotive material I had to see what would be the best tool using to unlock this type of vehicle and it seemed that it called for an under-the -window tool.

Even though an under-the-window tool can be a tricky tool to use at times, I had a lot of practice using it, so I knew I won't have any issues using it this time as well despite the fact I did not work on a Lexus model before. I immediately started working on the vehicle and after couple minutes of manipulating the tool through the door and inside the vehicle, I was able to access the door lock. However, each time that I tried unlocking it, it quickly locked itself not giving me a chance to open the door.

Since picking the locks were not an option due to the fact this vehicle had high security locks, I decided to give a call to a Spokane locksmith co-worker of mine for a little advice. After getting him on the phone and telling him the story, he said that the reason the vehicle kept locking itself each time I tried unlocking it was because the alarm was armed and that there was no way to disarm it. The only option I had he said was having the customer pull the handle as soon as I used the tool to unlock the door lock. After making couple attempts unlocking the vehicle with the help of the customer, the door finally opened!

File Cabinet Lockout Service

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Premier NorthWest Locksmith Spokane (509) 557-7680

Old Wood Lock Install

As a locksmith technician with many years of experience, I found myself often having to improvise on a job. As a locksmith technician coming to do a job you can never control of what you have to work with. Meaning, whether if its a vehicle, or a residential/commercial property it seem that there will always be surprises which will force the average technician to improvise on the job.

A few years ago I remember getting a call from a customer who just bought an old house and wanted to make an upgrade to the lock and latch that were installed on the front door. It seemed like he wanted something decorative that would compliment the theme of the house. After getting all the information I needed from him, I started heading the customer's way, but not before making a quick stop at the locksmith shop to get some decorative locks, so the customer would have multiple options to choose from.

Once I got to the customer's address, he showed me around to get a feel of what he wanted for the front and back door of his new home. After showing him all the options and coming to a decision, I grabbed my tools from the van and started disassembling the locks from the front and back door. Once the old locks were out, it was time for the new ones to be installed.

Starting with the front door which went fairly quick, I moved to the back door where issues started to arise. After getting the latches in place, it seemed that I couldn't get bot the latch and door strike screws to be locked tight. I was not surprised as the house seemed old and the door including the frame wood did not seem to be in the best shape. I then figured that if I'm gonna use longer screws it will solve the problem, but it didn't.

I decided to make a call to a Spokane locksmith co-worker of mine. Once I was able to get him on the phone and explained the situation, he advised me looking into drywall screws from the local hardware store. According to him, the heads on these screws are small enough not to stick out and they are very long which will help grip into solid wood. After running to the local hardware store really quick and grabbing few of these screws, I was able to complete the lock installation successfully.  

Residential Lockout Services in Spokane

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