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(323) 997-8867
Crenshaw Lock

Ignition Repair in Pasadena · 24/7 mobile

Ignition Repair in Pasadena, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile ignition repair in Pasadena, California, available 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 describe what the key is doing, and we will plan the repair.

  • Mobile to your Pasadena 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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A key that will not turn in the ignition rarely fails without warning. Usually the key has been sticking for weeks, needing a jiggle, a wiggle, or a tap on the steering wheel. Then one morning it will not turn at all. In Pasadena that tends to happen at inconvenient moments: in a parking structure off Colorado Boulevard, outside a trailhead near the Rose Bowl, or in a driveway in Hastings Ranch with a commute down the I-210 ahead of you.

Ignition trouble comes from a handful of causes. The key itself may be worn so the cuts no longer lift the wafers or pins properly. The cylinder may have worn internally after years of use, or been damaged by a previous theft attempt. The steering column lock may be binding because the wheel is under tension. Sometimes debris or a failing part behind the cylinder is the real culprit. Telling these apart matters, because replacing a cylinder when the key was the problem wastes money, and the reverse leaves you stranded again.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead technician David Shar built the business on fully mobile service. We have no storefront to tow your car to. We come to you, diagnose the problem on site, and repair or replace the ignition cylinder where the vehicle sits, whether that is a street in Bungalow Heaven or a lot near Caltech.

How it works in Pasadena

  1. 1

    Describe the symptoms by phone

    Call (323) 997-8867 at any hour. Tell us the make, model, and year, and what the key does: no movement, stiff turning, spinning freely, or sticking in the cylinder. Mention whether the steering wheel is locked and whether a spare key behaves the same way. Those details shape what we bring.

  2. 2

    Confirm ownership

    Before we work on an ignition we ask for proof that the vehicle is yours, such as registration and matching ID. It protects you, and it is a standard part of responsible automotive locksmith work.

  3. 3

    Diagnose on site

    We check the key for wear, try a spare if you have one, and see whether the steering lock is binding. We then determine whether the cylinder is worn, damaged, or fine and the issue lies elsewhere. Often a gentle, correct technique frees a binding lock with no parts replaced.

  4. 4

    Repair or replace the cylinder

    If the cylinder is worn or damaged, we repair it where possible or fit a replacement and cut keys to match. We explain the options before starting, so you know what is being done and why.

  5. 5

    Test key, ignition, and steering

    We test the new or repaired setup repeatedly: starting, turning off, removing the key, and locking and unlocking the steering column. If your vehicle has a transponder or immobilizer, we confirm the key communicates with the car before we finish.

  6. 6

    Hand over working keys

    You leave with keys that work smoothly, and we point out anything worth watching, such as a heavy keychain wearing on the cylinder or a worn spare that should be recut.

Need ignition repair in Pasadena?

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

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Whether the key is the problem or the cylinder is, since a recut key is a different job than a cylinder replacement.
  • Vehicle make, model, and year, which determine the type of cylinder and how much of the steering column must be worked on.
  • Transponder or immobilizer systems, which may require programming keys to the vehicle after the work.
  • Whether the cylinder can be repaired or must be replaced, and whether the ignition was damaged by attempted theft.
  • How many keys you need cut or programmed, including spares.
  • Time of day and location, since we are available 24/7 and after-hours calls can differ from daytime appointments.

Why Pasadena chooses us

  • Fully mobile: the work happens at your car in Pasadena, with no towing to a shop required.
  • In business since 1987, so our technicians have seen decades of ignition designs, from older mechanical cylinders to modern transponder systems.
  • We diagnose before replacing parts, so you are not sold a new cylinder when a worn key was the real issue.
  • Owner-led: David Shar leads the work and stands behind it.
  • Available 24/7, including nights and weekends, for stuck-key situations that rarely wait for business hours.
  • We explain the repair options in plain language and confirm ownership before starting, rather than rushing the job.

Ignition Repair across Pasadena

Pasadena is a car-dependent city with a lot of parked, long-sitting vehicles. Residents in Bungalow Heaven and Garfield Heights often park on the street or in narrow driveways beside Craftsman homes, while Madison Heights and Hastings Ranch households tend to keep several cars in rotation. Cars that sit unused for days can develop stiff ignitions, and older vehicles are especially prone to worn cylinders. We work on site in these neighborhoods, so you do not have to coax a failing key into a tow.

Around Old Pasadena and the Playhouse District, the problem often arrives in a parking structure or on a metered block near Colorado Boulevard, where a car that will not start blocks others and a tow feels like the only option. Near Caltech and Lake Avenue, students and staff may find a key that no longer turns after years of heavy use. Office workers heading to or from Huntington Hospital shifts, or visitors to the Norton Simon Museum and The Gamble House, can face the same trouble at any hour, which is why 24/7 mobile service matters. Call (323) 997-8867 whether you are in ZIP 91101, 91103, 91104, 91105, 91106, or 91107.

With the I-210, SR-134, and I-110 close by, a car that will not start can derail an entire day of commuting across the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles. Event days around the Rose Bowl add to the pressure, with crowded lots and little patience for a stuck vehicle. We come to wherever the car is parked and handle the ignition repair on the spot.

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 Pasadena locksmith services

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

Ignition Repair in Pasadena — FAQs

Why won't my key turn in the ignition?
Common causes include a worn key, a worn or damaged ignition cylinder, or a steering column lock binding under tension. Try gently turning the wheel while turning the key, and try a spare. If neither helps, call (323) 997-8867 and we can diagnose it.
Do you repair ignitions in Pasadena at night?
Yes. We are available 24/7 and fully mobile, so we can come to your car anywhere in Pasadena at any hour. Call (323) 997-8867.
Can the ignition be fixed without replacing it?
Sometimes. If the key is worn, a new key may solve it. A binding steering lock may free up with proper technique. If the cylinder itself is worn or damaged, repair or replacement is needed, and we explain which applies before we begin.
Will I need a new key after an ignition replacement?
Usually yes, since the new cylinder is keyed to match new keys. We cut keys to the new cylinder and, if your car has a transponder system, program them so the vehicle recognizes them.
What if my car is in a parking structure in Old Pasadena?
We can work in most parking structures and lots because we come to the car. Let us know the location, level, and any access requirements when you call.
Do I need to prove the car is mine?
Yes. We ask for registration and matching ID before working on an ignition. It protects owners from unauthorized access to their vehicles.
How is the cost of ignition repair determined?
It depends on the vehicle, whether the key or cylinder is at fault, whether a transponder is involved, how many keys are needed, and when you call. We explain the factors and options before work starts.
Can you help if my key snapped off in the ignition?
We can often extract a broken key piece and then assess whether the cylinder is damaged. Avoid forcing it, and call (323) 997-8867 so we can plan the repair.
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