23 September 2026 · 3 min read
Key blades usually break at the thinnest point, near the shoulder. That is where the metal is most fatigued after years of use. The remaining piece gets stuck in the lock and blocks it. Here is what you do.
What not to do
The first impulse is to try pulling the piece out with tweezers, a fingernail or a paper clip. That sounds logical but the risk is high that you push the piece deeper into the lock or damage the cylinder. Damage to the cylinder means a more expensive repair than necessary. Do not use glue to pull the piece out either: glue inside a lock is nearly impossible to remove and renders the lock unusable. Have it done professionally.
How we remove the piece
We use specialist extraction tools designed for exactly these situations. In many cases the broken piece can be removed without dismounting the lock. If the piece has slipped deep inside or the lock is already damaged, the cylinder is removed and treated separately. After extraction we assess whether the lock is still safe and functional or needs to be replaced.
After: new key blade or new key?
After removing the broken piece you need a new key. If the chip in your key fob is intact, we cut only a new blade. If the entire key is lost or damaged, we program a completely new one. We carry out everything on location, including testing the lock and the new key. In most cases you drive away the same day with a working car.