What goes wrong
Locked out of a car in Audubon usually happens for a few common, mechanical reasons: the key stays inside the cabin, a key breaks off in the blade or the wafer-style cylinder, the fob stops sending, or the door latch binds and won’t move. Sometimes the ignition cylinder sticks and the steering column locks down after a partially broken blade. We see worn keys that no longer engage all the pins, bent key shanks that jam the plug, and weather-swollen seals that prevent the door from closing fully over the latch.
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What the job involves
On the job we first inspect the vehicle and identify what’s mechanically wrong, then choose the least invasive method to get you back inside. That can mean single-pin picking, using decoding tools to read the lock, or removing interior trim to access the latch on vehicles that need it. We carry a mobile key machine and can cut and code a replacement on site for many cars. We drive out from Havertown and work on common passenger locks, keyless entry systems, and ignition cylinders without taking your vehicle anywhere.
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Good to know
While you wait, stay with the vehicle if it’s safe to do so and keep children and pets out of traffic. If you have a spare key nearby or a family member with access, let them bring it. Don’t try to force the door with screwdrivers or pry bars; that usually damages the latch, the door skin, or the weather seals and complicates the repair. If the alarm is active, you can try to disable it with a spare fob or by turning the vehicle to accessory if the key is in the ignition but not engaging.
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Worth knowing
Have ready a government photo ID and proof of ownership for the vehicle, such as a registration or title, and the key or fob if part of it still works. Tell us the vehicle make, model and year and whether the doors are metal, aluminum, or have reinforced striker plates; mention any aftermarket locks or steering-wheel cages. We ask to see ID and ownership documents before we start work. Remember we’re a mobile service; there’s no shop to visit, every job takes place where the vehicle is.
