Open 24/7 · Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County

(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Ignition Repair in Malibu · 24/7 mobile

Ignition Repair in Malibu, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile ignition repair in Malibu, California, around the clock. If your key won't turn, your ignition cylinder is worn, or the switch fails, we come to your vehicle and fix it on site. Call us 24/7 at (323) 997-8867.

  • Mobile to your Malibu location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Key in a car ignition cylinder with the dashboard glowing
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An ignition problem rarely announces itself politely. The key goes in but won't turn, the steering wheel stays locked, the key sticks or snaps, or the dash lights flicker and the engine refuses to start. In Malibu, a car that won't start can be a real problem. Pacific Coast Highway has few places to pull over safely, and the canyon roads like Kanan Dume Road and Malibu Canyon Road have little room for a stalled vehicle. A tow to a shop is often the last thing anyone wants to arrange.

Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile. We have no storefront, so there is nowhere to tow your car to. We bring the tools and expertise to wherever the vehicle is parked, whether that is a driveway in Point Dume, a spot near Malibu Country Mart, or a lot near Zuma Beach. We have served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner David Shar leads the work.

Ignition trouble comes from several different causes: worn wafers inside the cylinder, a worn or bent key, a damaged steering column lock, or a failing electrical switch behind the cylinder. Part of our job is figuring out which one you have, so you only pay to fix the real problem. Coastal air and sand can also contribute to sticking and wear, and we keep that in mind when we diagnose.

How it works in Malibu

  1. 1

    Call and describe the symptoms

    Call (323) 997-8867 any time, day or night. Tell us the make, model, and year, and what the ignition is doing: key won't go in, won't turn, turns with no start, or the wheel is locked. That helps us bring the right parts and tools.

  2. 2

    We come to your vehicle

    We are 24/7 and fully mobile, so we travel to you in Malibu, whether you are in a driveway, a parking lot, or on a safe stretch off the road. Nothing needs to be towed.

  3. 3

    Diagnose before we repair

    We check the key for wear, test the cylinder, inspect the steering lock, and look at the electrical switch. A worn key, a stuck cylinder, and a failed switch each call for a different fix, so we confirm the cause first.

  4. 4

    Repair or replace the cylinder

    Where possible we service the existing cylinder. If it is too worn or damaged, we replace it and cut keys to match. Many vehicles also need transponder or chip programming, which we handle on site.

  5. 5

    Test and hand over

    We test the key repeatedly in the ignition, check that the steering lock releases, and confirm the car starts and runs. You leave with working keys and a clear explanation of what failed.

Need ignition repair in Malibu?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Vehicle make, model, and year, since some ignition systems are far more complex than others
  • Whether the existing cylinder can be repaired or must be fully replaced
  • Whether the key needs transponder or chip programming, or a new key must be cut
  • Damage to related parts such as the steering column lock or ignition switch
  • Time of day and the exact location of the vehicle within our service area
  • Condition of the car's keys, such as worn or broken keys that must be extracted

Why Malibu chooses us

  • Fully mobile: we repair the ignition where your car sits, with no tow to a shop
  • Available 24/7, including nights and weekends
  • In business serving Greater Los Angeles since 1987, with owner David Shar leading the work
  • We diagnose first, so you are not sold a new cylinder when a new key or switch would solve it
  • Keys cut and programmed on site, so you are not left with a car that turns over but will not start
  • Clear explanation of the cause and options before work begins

Ignition Repair across Malibu

Malibu stretches along more than twenty miles of coast, and a vehicle problem can happen almost anywhere along it. We work in the residential pockets of Point Dume, the gated Malibu Colony, and the area around Big Rock, as well as near Pepperdine University, Surfrider Beach, and the Malibu Pier. Our service covers Malibu ZIP codes including 90265, 90263, and 90264.

The environment here matters for ignitions. Salt air and fine beach sand work into key slots and cylinders, and cars that spend years parked near the water often develop sticky or gritty ignitions before they fail outright. A key that feels rough going in is an early warning. If you have a car that lives near Zuma Beach or on a bluff, having it looked at before it stops turning can save you a bad morning.

Getting stuck is also harder on Malibu's roads. Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1), Kanan Dume Road, Malibu Canyon Road, and Las Flores Canyon Road can be narrow, busy, and short on safe shoulders. If your car will not start on or near them, call (323) 997-8867 and we will help you work out the safest way to get it handled. For gated properties, such as those in Malibu Colony, we can coordinate access through the guard gate.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other Malibu locksmith services

See all of our Malibu services, or our citywide ignition repair page.

Ignition Repair in Malibu — FAQs

My key won't turn in the ignition. Is the cylinder broken?
Not always. A worn key, a locked steering wheel putting pressure on the lock, or debris in the cylinder can all cause it. We diagnose before replacing anything. Call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you in Malibu.
Do you come to me, or do I have to tow the car?
We are fully mobile and have no storefront, so we come to your vehicle anywhere in Malibu. In most cases the repair is completed on site without a tow.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes, we are available 24/7. You can reach us at (323) 997-8867 at any hour.
Can salt air and sand damage a car's ignition?
They can contribute. Coastal moisture and fine sand work into the cylinder and key slot and speed up wear and sticking. If your key feels rough or gritty, it is worth having checked before it fails.
Will I need a new key after an ignition repair?
Sometimes. If the old key is worn, or if we replace the cylinder, new keys may need to be cut and, for many vehicles, programmed. We explain this before starting.
My key broke off in the ignition. Can you help?
Yes. We extract broken key pieces and then assess whether the cylinder is damaged. Call (323) 997-8867 and tell us the vehicle details.
How is the price determined?
It depends on the vehicle, whether the cylinder can be repaired or replaced, any key cutting or programming, and the location and time of the call. We explain the options before work begins.
Can you work on cars parked at a gated property?
Generally yes. For gated areas such as Malibu Colony, we coordinate access with the guard gate or the property contact. Call (323) 997-8867 with the location.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7