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(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Ignition Repair in Manhattan Beach · 24/7 mobile

Ignition Repair in Manhattan Beach, CA

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile ignition repair in Manhattan Beach, California, 24/7. We repair or replace worn ignition cylinders and fix keys that won't turn, right where your car is parked. Call (323) 997-8867 and we'll talk through your situation and come to you.

  • Mobile to your Manhattan Beach 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 that won't turn is one of the more stressful car problems because it usually shows up at the worst moment: in a parking spot near the Manhattan Beach Pier, in the lot at Manhattan Village, or in your own driveway on a weekday morning. Sometimes the key goes in but refuses to rotate. Sometimes it turns only with jiggling, or it sticks in the cylinder and won't come out. Those are the classic signs of a worn cylinder, damaged wafers, or a key that has worn down over years of use.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business around coming to the customer. We are fully mobile. There is no shop to tow your car to and no storefront to visit. We bring the tools and parts to your vehicle, diagnose what is actually wrong, and repair or replace the ignition cylinder on site wherever that is possible.

Ignition trouble is not always the cylinder itself. A stuck steering column lock, a worn key, a damaged key blank, or a fault in the electronics that read a transponder chip can all feel like a bad ignition. Part of our job is sorting out which one you have so you do not pay to replace something that was never broken.

How it works in Manhattan Beach

  1. 1

    Call and describe the symptoms

    Call (323) 997-8867 any hour. Tell us the make, model, and year, and what the key is doing: not turning, sticking, turning with force, or not coming out. Those details help us decide what to bring and whether the problem sounds mechanical or electronic.

  2. 2

    We drive to your vehicle

    Because we are fully mobile, we come to wherever the car sits, whether that is a Sand Section street, a garage in the Hill Section, or a lot along Sepulveda Blvd. There is no tow needed and no trip to a shop.

  3. 3

    Diagnose before replacing anything

    We check the key for wear, test whether the steering lock is binding, and see how the cylinder responds. A worn key or a locked steering wheel is a different fix than a failed cylinder, and we want to identify the real cause first.

  4. 4

    Repair or replace the cylinder

    If the cylinder is the problem, we service it or install a replacement, depending on its condition and your vehicle. Where the design requires it, we make sure the new cylinder works with your key and, if the vehicle has one, with the transponder system.

  5. 5

    Test and confirm

    Before we finish, we test the key in the ignition several times, confirm it turns smoothly and returns properly, and check that the vehicle starts. If your old key is the weak link, we can talk through having a fresh one made.

Need ignition repair in Manhattan Beach?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Whether the existing cylinder can be repaired or needs to be fully replaced
  • Vehicle make, model, and year, since some ignition assemblies are far more involved than others
  • Whether the vehicle has a transponder or immobilizer system that must be matched to the key
  • Whether new keys need to be cut or programmed as part of the job
  • The condition of the original key and whether it is contributing to the problem
  • Time of day and the location of the vehicle, since we operate around the clock

Why Manhattan Beach chooses us

  • Fully mobile service, so your car stays where it is and we come to you
  • Operating since 1987, with the owner, David Shar, leading the technical work
  • Diagnosis first, so you aren't sold a new cylinder when a worn key or steering lock is the real issue
  • Available 24/7, including nights and weekends when beach-area parking and busy weekends make breakdowns harder
  • Honest communication about what we find, including when a repair isn't the right answer
  • Experience with both older mechanical ignitions and newer transponder-equipped vehicles

Ignition Repair across Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach is a car-dependent beach town where cars live in tight spaces. In the Sand Section, many vehicles are tucked into small garages of newer three-story homes or parked along narrow streets near The Strand, so a mobile technician who can work in close quarters matters. In the Hill Section, larger properties often mean multiple cars, some of them older or less-driven vehicles whose ignition cylinders stiffen from sitting.

Salt air is a real factor here. Vehicles parked close to the coast, especially in the Sand Section and along Marine Ave, can see corrosion and sticky mechanisms over time, and that can show up as a key that turns reluctantly. In the Tree Section and East Manhattan Beach, daily commuters using Sepulveda Blvd, Rosecrans Ave, Manhattan Beach Blvd, and Aviation Blvd put steady wear on keys and ignition cylinders.

We serve ZIP code 90266 and the whole city, from Polliwog Park and Metlox Plaza to Bruce's Beach and Manhattan Village. If your key won't turn anywhere in Manhattan Beach, call (323) 997-8867 and we will come to you.

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 Manhattan Beach locksmith services

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

Ignition Repair in Manhattan Beach — FAQs

Why won't my car key turn in the ignition?
Common causes include a worn key, a worn or damaged ignition cylinder, or a steering column lock that is binding. Call (323) 997-8867 and we can help work out which one it is. Do not force the key, since that can break it off in the cylinder.
Can you fix my ignition in Manhattan Beach without towing the car?
In most cases, yes. We are fully mobile and come to the vehicle, whether it is at home, at work, or parked near the pier. If something more involved is found, we will tell you plainly.
Is it the ignition or just my key?
Worn keys are a very common cause of ignition trouble. We check the key first and compare it against the cylinder, so you only pay for the repair you actually need.
My steering wheel is locked and the key won't move. Is that an ignition problem?
Often it is the steering lock putting pressure on the key. Gently wiggling the wheel while turning the key sometimes releases it, but if it doesn't, call (323) 997-8867 rather than forcing it.
Do you replace the ignition cylinder or only repair it?
Either, depending on the condition. If a repair is reasonable, we will say so. If the cylinder is too worn or damaged, we replace it.
Will my new ignition work with my existing key?
That depends on the vehicle and the type of cylinder. We can discuss options and make sure the key and ignition work together, including any transponder requirements, before the job is finished.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes. We operate 24/7, so you can call (323) 997-8867 at any hour. We do not make timing promises, but we will be upfront about availability when you call.
Do you have a shop in Manhattan Beach I can visit?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile, so there is no storefront. We come to you anywhere in the city, including ZIP code 90266.
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