Any tips on getting half a snapped van key out of ignition?

[WaterTight]

I've checked and it's not magnetic.

Van still starts by insets remaining half in. It's the type with a chip in it too.

For all I know it'd work forever like this but I'm down to one half of a key (spare lost) and so wouldn't mind retrieving it and getting a spare cut.

 

[WaterTight]

*Van still starts by inserting

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

*Van still starts by inserting

what van is it?

 

[diamondgas]

Try getting on your knees

 

[WaterTight]

Fiat Scudo

 

[SimonJohns]

i would leave it in there

it cannot be started without the immobliser chip,

otherwise i think you may need a GOOD locksmith

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

Fiat Scudo

you can fit one of these if its the mk 1 scudo
Fiat Scudo steering lock ignition barrel key ECU Dispatch Expert van | eBay
the snapped key cant be removed sadly

 

[markfxy]

can you see the end of the key and maybe drill a small hole in the end of the key and get a small screw in there to pull it out ?

 

[gassafe]

If your brave try a blob of super glue on the end of your key... it might work?

Dont go too mad and get the whole key stuck in the ignition tho lol...

 

[Guest123]

......park it in a Glasgow back street?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

keep it as it is , take insurance and report it after few weeks .....problem solved

 

[WaterTight]

key insurance?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

yes, usually get sold with your van insurance or tool insurance

 

[SafeGasInstall]

check with your current insurance company

 

[BLOD]

might be worth showing it to a locksmith (a proper one)?

 

[REDSAW]

you can take most barrels apart once out. they have a crescent washer holding them together but you should be able to poke a pin in the dropper holes and tease it out.

the locksmith way is to use a ..........................................pm me and i will tell you how to get it out.
i assume it is a flat key?

 

[Howsie]

Locksmiths can sometimes remove these. Sadly they couldn't on mine and it cost me a new barrel and key. Ouch!!!

Good luck.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

you can take most barrels apart once out. they have a crescent washer holding them together but you should be able to poke a pin in the dropper holes and tease it out.

the locksmith way is to use a ..........................................pm me and i will tell you how to get it out.
i assume it is a flat key?

no there not flat on this van,they are a funny shape the barrel is part of a non removable s/s set up with a ecu coded reader on it

 

[Mike Jackson]

Torch the van and claim on the insurance.

 

[Puddle]

Same thing happened to me,if you use a thin allen key/s you should be able to remove broken piece,then get new key cut easily,the chip is in the plastic section at the top of the key,NOT in the large plastic piece attached to it,I found this out to late and spent 1hr in a small skip looking for it,thanks for nothing AA,you will need this,due to not having key code and cost,I taped this to the new key,well in the end a taped it to the sensor after pulling from barrel but of cause it is always immobilised,it had to be in the centre so used some polystyrene to push it in and taped up worked a treat

I then had all my locks changed a few months latter,as the local louts had broken them one by one,at great expense and they would not fit ignition as I did not have the code they said I needed to replace it,I switched it over and indeed ,it did not start,however disconnected battery and connected 5 mins latter and all worked ok

I drove away next day had a diesel leak on high pressure side when engine started,repaired that,then went to drive off and exhaust dropped off,so thought to myself,someone trying to tell me something here and went and got a new van,loved the peugeot expert though



As said key chip in plastic key top not attached piece as many believe

 

[REDSAW]

ok!.
the best way to extract a key is to make a simular item to a locksmiths pick.
get a set of feeler gauges and trim down the thin one (or work your way up the set to one that suits) with a pair of scissors. cut the blade so its the right width then barb the edges slightly.
the idea is to slide the blade into the lock along side the key. the barb will catch the key and extract it. good luck.

 

[SimonG]

Bit of epoxy resin glue on a thin allen key, wait to set and hey presto. Like Redsaw's way as well.

 

[Guest123]

Great tip SimonG!

 

[WaterTight]

Well I'm torn between a) the glue on a thin thing or b) leaving it be.

How likely do we think the chances are that the half a key lodged in the ignition and the half a key sitting on my bunch of keys - which have, together, successfully started the van first time every time for last week of usage - will suddenly stop working while I'm stranded somewhere?

 

[SimonG]

Well I'm torn between a) the glue on a thin thing or b) leaving it be.

How likely do we think the chances are that the half a key lodged in the ignition and the half a key sitting on my bunch of keys - which have, together, successfully started the van first time every time for last week of usage - will suddenly stop working while I'm stranded somewhere?

.............and don't forget, not only will you be miles from nowhere you will have no mobile signal either.