Ignition Repair & Rekey
Your vehicle's ignition does a lot of heavy lifting — every start, every key turn, every cold Durham morning when you're running late to Research Triangle Park or fighting traffic on I-85. Over time, ignitions wear down, develop internal damage, or get forced by the wrong key. When yours stops cooperating, Durham Pro Locksmith sends a skilled mobile locksmith directly to your location — whether you're stranded in a parking garage off Ninth Street, stuck at a shopping center near Southpoint, or sitting in your driveway in Hope Valley. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no extra charge for after-hours emergencies buried in the fine print — just straightforward service when you need it most.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week · Licensed, bonded & insured
Our insured technicians carry professional-grade tools and OEM-compatible components to address a wide range of ignition problems on the spot. We work on domestic and import vehicles, older classics, and modern cars with chip-equipped keys. Whether you need a full ignition cylinder replacement, a quick ignition rekey, or a diagnosis of why your key won't turn, we give you a confirmed price before any work begins — no surprises, no pressure. Call us at (919) 809-6664 and a technician can typically be on the way within minutes.
What we do
Available 24/7
Day, night, weekends and holidays — a real local locksmith answers and rolls a fully-stocked van.
Fast local response
Based in Durham, we reach the Durham area in well under an hour.
Insured & background-checked
Vetted technicians, up-front pricing, and no surprise add-ons when we arrive.
Damage-free entry
We pick and bypass locks the right way, so most lockouts are solved without drilling anything.
More about our work
Everything you need to know about how we help — at a glance.
Common Ignition Problems We Fix for Durham Drivers
Ignition trouble can creep up gradually or stop you dead without warning. A worn ignition cylinder — one that's been turned thousands of times over years of daily driving — often starts slipping, refusing to release your key, or requiring you to jiggle the steering wheel just to get the engine to fire. Forced entry attempts, bent keys broken off inside the lock, or damage from a vehicle break-in can leave the cylinder in far worse shape. Durham sees its share of vehicle break-ins, particularly in high-traffic zones near Durham Bulls Athletic Park and along parts of Guess Road, and a damaged ignition is sometimes what drivers discover after the fact.
Other common issues include keys that turn but don't engage the starter, ignitions stuck in the 'accessory' or 'start' position, and ignition switches that have electrically failed behind the cylinder itself. Our mobile locksmith technicians are trained to distinguish between a mechanical cylinder problem — which is purely a locksmith scope of work — and an electrical ignition switch issue, and we'll always be upfront with you about what we find and what it will take to resolve it. In many cases, we can complete the repair on the spot without towing your vehicle anywhere.
Ignition Repair & Rekey Services: What We Actually Do
'Ignition repair' and 'ignition rekey' refer to two distinct but related services that get lumped together, so here's the plain-language breakdown. An ignition repair typically involves removing the cylinder, repairing or replacing worn or damaged internal wafers, and reinstalling the assembly so it operates smoothly again. When a key has broken inside the lock, we extract the fragment without drilling — saving the cylinder whenever possible — and then assess whether the housing is still serviceable. A full cylinder replacement is necessary when the internals are too far gone or when the housing itself is cracked or stripped.
An ignition rekey is the right call when you want to change which key operates the ignition — for example, after buying a used vehicle where you don't have full key control, after a theft or attempted theft, or simply to bring your ignition in sync with a new door key so one key operates the whole car. Our locksmith technicians rekey ignitions by disassembling the cylinder and reconfiguring the internal pin or wafer combination to match a new key cut. It's precise work that requires hands-on skill and the right tooling, and it's far more cost-effective than replacing the entire ignition assembly in most cases.
Our Full List of Ignition & Related Locksmith Services
Durham Pro Locksmith handles the full spectrum of ignition and vehicle locksmith work from a single mobile unit. Our services include: ignition cylinder removal and replacement, ignition rekey to a new key, broken key extraction from ignition (damage-free method), ignition cylinder repair (wafer/tumbler service), ignition switch diagnosis and referral, stuck ignition key release, high-security transponder key cutting and programming, laser-cut (sidewinder) key duplication, key fob programming and replacement, push-to-start proximity key programming, spare key creation from a working key, spare key creation from the ignition lock (no working key required), VIN-based key origination for lost-all-keys situations, ignition rekey to match existing door key, ignition rekey after unauthorized key use, foreign/import vehicle ignition service, domestic truck and SUV ignition repair, motorcycle ignition rekey, RV and camper ignition service, classic and vintage vehicle ignition work, emergency after-hours ignition service, on-site vehicle lockout service, damaged door lock repair, glove box and console lock repair, and trunk lock service. Every job starts with a firm quote so you know the cost before we touch anything.
What to Expect When You Call Durham Pro Locksmith
When you call (919) 809-6664, you'll speak with a real person — not a call center routing you through multiple transfers. We'll ask a few quick questions: your vehicle's year, make, and model, your current location in Durham or the surrounding area, and a brief description of the problem. From there, we can give you a realistic time estimate and a price range based on typical jobs like yours. We confirm the exact price on-site after a quick inspection before any work begins — that's our standard practice, and we don't deviate from it.
Our mobile locksmith units are stocked with ignition cylinders, key blanks, programmers, and extraction tools so the job can typically be completed in a single visit. We serve all of Durham — from the Duke University area and Brightleaf Square to Trinity Park, Brier Creek, and the neighborhoods out toward Chapel Hill Road. If you've been quoted a price somewhere else and it seemed high, we encourage you to call us and get a comparison. Estimates are free over the phone for standard services, and our insured technicians are trained to work efficiently without cutting corners on the quality of the repair.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to what our customers ask most. Still unsure? Just call.
How do I know if my ignition cylinder needs repair or full replacement?+
In many cases, a worn or sticky ignition can be repaired by servicing the internal wafers or tumblers — a skilled locksmith can disassemble the cylinder, replace damaged components, and reinstall it for significantly less than a full replacement. A full replacement is warranted when the cylinder housing is physically cracked, stripped, or so worn that servicing the internals won't restore reliable function. When we arrive, we inspect the cylinder first and give you an honest recommendation before any work starts. You'll always know the scope and cost upfront.
Can you extract a broken key from my ignition without damaging the cylinder?+
Yes — broken key extraction is one of the most common ignition calls we handle, and in most cases we can remove the fragment using professional extraction tools without drilling or damaging the cylinder. The key word is 'most cases': if the key broke off deep inside a cylinder that was already heavily worn, or if a previous extraction attempt was made with the wrong tools, additional damage may already be present. We'll assess the situation on arrival and let you know whether a damage-free extraction is feasible or whether cylinder replacement is the better path forward.
What does an ignition rekey cost in Durham, and how long does it take?+
Ignition rekey pricing in the Durham area typically falls in a range depending on your vehicle's make, model, and the complexity of the cylinder — simpler domestic vehicles tend to be on the lower end, while import vehicles or high-security ignitions involve more labor and parts. As a rough ballpark, ignition rekeying jobs often range from around $75 to $175, but that figure can vary meaningfully based on your specific situation. We confirm the exact price on-site after a quick inspection, before any work begins. As for time, most ignition rekeys take 30–60 minutes once a technician is on location.
My key turns but the car won't start — is that an ignition lock problem or something else?+
That symptom can point in a few directions. If the key turns freely but the engine doesn't crank at all, the issue may be with the ignition switch (the electrical component behind the cylinder) rather than the lock cylinder itself. It could also be a transponder chip issue — if your key's chip isn't communicating with your car's immobilizer, the engine won't start even if the cylinder turns normally. Our locksmith technicians are trained to identify whether the problem is mechanical or chip/transponder-related, and we can often test both on-site. If it turns out to be a purely electrical ignition switch problem beyond our scope, we'll tell you that clearly so you can make an informed decision about next steps.
Do you work on ignitions for older or classic vehicles?+
Absolutely. Older vehicles often have simpler ignition cylinder designs that are actually more straightforward to rekey or repair than modern high-security systems. We carry a broad selection of key blanks and have experience with vintage American vehicles as well as classic imports. If your classic car's ignition has been giving you trouble or you've acquired a vehicle without the original key, call us at (919) 809-6664 and describe the vehicle — we'll let you know right away if it's within our standard inventory or if we'll need to source a specific blank before arriving.
Is it safe to drive with a worn or slipping ignition?+
We'd strongly advise against it. A worn ignition cylinder that slips or sticks can fail entirely at a very inconvenient moment — imagine the engine shutting off unexpectedly at highway speed on I-885, or your key refusing to turn at all after you've filled up across town. Beyond the inconvenience, a badly worn cylinder can also allow the steering column to behave unpredictably. Ignition repair is generally much less expensive than the situation that results from a complete failure on the road. If your ignition is showing signs of wear, call us for a same-day assessment — we're available around the clock.