key snapped in ignition Page 376

Deep breath—forcing it will only turn “key snapped in ignition” into “ignition needs a priest.”

Spray a little graphite lube, then try fine needle-nose pliers or a broken-key extractor to tease out the shard; keep the ignition off and the steering wheel relaxed. Skip the superglue heroics unless you fancy a permanent monument to panic. If it won’t budge, a mobile locksmith is your friend: expect roughly AUD 120–250 for extraction, more (AUD 200–450) if a transponder key needs cutting/programming, and around AUD 300–700 if the ignition barrel’s cactus. Towing adds extra, so the locksmith call is usually the cheaper painkiller. If you’d rather outsource straight away, line up a local via ServiceCentral or similar and put the kettle on while they work.