best way to remove a broken key?

3.3H6 · #1 01-20-2011, 06:45 PM

yeah, it happened, my driver side door lock was frozen, and I turned the key too hard and snapped it off

Luckily I had a spare made earlier in the week when I got my tires changed

Now I have a problem, how do I get the broken piece out?? A few paper clips seem to be my first idea, anyone got any ideas?

oh, its a 92.

fun173 · #2 01-20-2011, 06:57 PM

Not sure how far it is sticking out but put hot glue or super glue on the end of a Popsicle stick and attach it to the key which should pull it out.

North Ursalia · #3 01-20-2011, 07:02 PM

The lock cylinders are silly easy to take out of the car, and in doing so will make it way easier to remove the broken bit of key. I'm not sure on the SVX's locks, but Impreza ones have a small hole in the back of the cylinder you can push the broken piece out through with a small pick.

3.3H6 · #4 01-20-2011, 07:11 PM

thanks people, incidentally, do the lock cylinders in the svx's doors freeze easily? It seems like when the temperature drops below 20 they freeze up.

kwren · #5 01-20-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3.3H6

thanks people, incidentally, do the lock cylinders in the svx's doors freeze easily? It seems like when the temperature drops below 20 they freeze up.

Depends on whether there is water in the cylinder, if temp drops too low even if the key can be forced in the cylinders will not move to the correct spots and allow the key to turn. A hair dryer works great to loosen it up and simply working the key in and out after it has warmed up enough will allow everything to line up correctly.

Keith

3.3H6 · #6 01-20-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwren

Depends on whether there is water in the cylinder, if temp drops too low even if the key can be forced in the cylinders will not move to the correct spots and allow the key to turn. A hair dryer works great to loosen it up and simply working the key in and out after it has warmed up enough will allow everything to line up correctly.

Keith

Yeah, normally I just heat my key with a butane jet lighter, after a few tries it usually works, but I left it in the car (doh!).

XT6Wagon · #7 01-20-2011, 10:13 PM

dunno if will work on the svx key, but I used to pull out the broken key chunk on my SHO with tweezers. Kinda blows when your last key breaks off. Lucky for me keyless entry for the door, then the chunk of key would let you start it with a screwdriver. When done driving it, fish out key chunk with small tweezers.