Snapped key in lock

[anonymous-user]

Through being a total thoughtless idiot today, I managed to snap the key off whilst the rest of it is in the car door lock.

Any ideas how I can get the bit out? Minor damage to the lock as well but still usable.

[Poison Tom 96]

Small magnet?

HTH

[Rick_1138]

Depends how much is sticking out, is it flush with the lock or can you get needle nose pliers onto it, or even decent tweezers?

If not, next idea would be to try a pin vice with a thin drill, drill into the key a little bit, then get some thin wire that fits in the drilled hole, superglue it in and then carefully pull the key out.

If you are at work, get in passenger door and drive car if you have spare key, if you don't then you may have issues.

must be a ballache mind

[anonymous-user]

Its the drivers side door key and non of it is showing in the lock, the little flap is over it.

Not sure a magnet would work because it takes some effort to stick it in there.

I think it might be a case of buying a new handle. It's only an old golf.

Any idea how not to end up with a car with two different keys?

[Snowboy]

Matchstick with superglue on the end.
Paperclip to hold the flap back.

Or paperclip and vacuum cleaner - suck it out.

[anonymous-user]

Snowboy said:

Matchstick with superglue on the end.
Paperclip to hold the flap back.

I like that. Will give it a go. Thanks

[Snowboy]

Matchstick with superglue on the end.
Paperclip to hold the flap back.

Or paperclip and vacuum cleaner - suck it out.

[Pistachio]

I remember seeing a couple of guys in a transit at Folkestone Euro Tunnel about 15 years ago wheeling a large trolley of duty free booze towards there van, ready to go through the tunnel and presumably back again,they went to unlock it and SNAP their only key !!!
They both stood there dumbfounded....

as for getting the key out ...call a lock smith out to help.

[dave7692]

I wouldn't go sticking spuerglue in there unless its really your last option because if any of it gets on the internals of the lock you are well and truly done for.

[Rick_1138]

Other slightly more extreme option is open door, take lock mechanism ouff and remove the barrel, its a bit of a pain but I think on the mk4 gold and earlier you can do it without taking half the door apart....not 100% on that thought, you could then get at lock and maybe push key out with paperclip from other side??

[Superhoop]

Rick_1138 said:

Other slightly more extreme option is open door, take lock mechanism ouff and remove the barrel, its a bit of a pain but I think on the mk4 gold and earlier you can do it without taking half the door apart....not 100% on that thought, you could then get at lock and maybe push key out with paperclip from other side??

This^^^^

If the door is unlocked, open the door, remove the screw from that retains the door handle, and it pulls out from the edge nearest the door shut, and then pivots out from the front mounting.... Once out, you should be able to either a) see the key in the tumblers and push out the broken piece of key, or b) take the handle to a local locksmith shop and they'll get theold ket out of the barrel and cut you a new one.

[Krikkit]

If the door lock dismantling doesn't work, try a Neodymium magnet super-glued onto a stick.

[The Jolly Todger]

Krikkit said:

Neodymium magnet super-glued onto a stick.

Hmmmm, that reminds me, what would Dave do?




I think tweezers would be the way to go.

[Le TVR]

Lock barrels are often drilled through at the back so you can take of the door inner panel and poke some wire into the hole and push the key out.

[carinaman]

Useful thread, thank you.

Good suggestion Snowboy, I wouldn't have thought of that.

Showing some empathy I did this earlier this year. I was being an unthinking idiot.

I looked at the back of the lock with a view to replacing it with a lock and key from a breaker and didn't notice a hole in the back of the lock. The broken off key is still in the lock, but I can live with it.

[anonymous-user]

The beginning of this story is worse. I was moving the car forwards with the engine off. Door propped open with my leg in it. Door went past a post in the garage and the weakest thing in the whole equation was the key in the lock.

Trapped my leg for a bit as I couldn't twist around.

Completely avoidable and prize idiot territory.

Thanks a lot for all suggestions

[OdramaSwimLaden]

Cut new key and convert to LHD.