Oh no... Lost my keys

[maxgreenwood]

Never thought this would happen to me but amongst the chaos of moving house i have lost my BX keys and no spare - forever getting round to it

i know when i last had them and have re-trodden my steps but no luck so far.

The good news is i left the car unlocked last night- ok round these parts. The other good news is i have a good spare ignition barrel and key from another car which i was going to fit anyway as mine is sticky.

The bad news is obviously i no longer have keys to fit the doors, and i think i may have made an error in taking the other ignition barrel out of the now scrapped car by cutting the loom thinking i could slot my existing set of wires into that other barrel - i took it apart a bit and its quite intricate in there but i think it should be possible?

How do i get the barrel i don't have keys for out? Without inserting the key how do i depress that little button on the shaft?

I can't believe i never got round to getting a spare. Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated.

[Aerodynamica]

What items of clothing were you wearing last time you were at the car?

Also - it the car is unlocked perhaps the keys are inside somewhere.. under seats or between the seat squab and seat back? amaze at the number of things I've lost in there.. I always check now..

[docchevron]

How do i get the barrel i don't have keys for out? Without inserting the key how do i depress that little button on the shaft?

Two options really.
Either a small die grinder carefully placed against the "button".
Or, angle grinder / hacksaw / anything that cuts, tun a cut into the colomn itself.

[DavidRutherford]

Without inserting the key how do i depress that little button on the shaft?

Last time I had to do this, I used a punch directly on the button, and welted it with a hammer. Two hits and it had collapsed, and the barrel slid out with no problems.

[DLM]

I did what the doc recommends when a key broke in the ignition, with the car blocking a driveway and garage, so I could push the car out of the way. GS&F were still doing the ignition barrel + lead set a few months ago, and have done a full set in the past.

[Kitch]

I beat a small flat headed screwdriver down the side of the housing and prized the barrel out, button intact (as none of my punches were man enough to hit it with). Then once out, beat housing back into round shape again and refit.

[maxgreenwood]

thanks for the advice guys. I'll have a look tonight see if i can switch them over. It'll have to be the hammer i think.

Lets see if the key turns up straight after me changing it.

I was chatting to Citroen7 saying i'll have to make sure the new key is attached to a big bunch of other keys or a big keyring. He was saying he gets round the problem by leaving his keys attached to his cars. One of the benefits of rural living!

[citroen7]

max left a post on the other thread matching set in the post tomorrow

[maxgreenwood]

i left a message on the other thread saying 'thanks'!

[maxgreenwood]

Well the good news is i found my keys! The bad news is they were in an embarrisingly obvious place

I do need to change the ignition as mine is sticky but at least it will be a bit easier now.