Vehicle lockouts are a frustrating nuisance. They can throw a person’s whole schedule off and leave them waiting for roadside assistance to get back into the vehicle. However, taking the necessary precautions helps to avoid this issue. It’s easier to do that when you understand the most common causes of this problem.

What Causes Vehicle Lockouts?

1. Keys Locked in Vehicle

Most people have various tasks on their mind, making it more likely for them to lock the vehicle while the keys are still inside. The keys could also fall into the trunk as it’s closing and become trapped inside. Regardless, either a spare key will be needed to get back inside, or a towing company needs to provide lockout services to gain access to the keys.

2. Lost Keys

Even when they are attached to a keychain, it’s relatively easy to misplace or leave keys behind somewhere, such as your home, on the sidewalk, or somewhere in your lawn. The problem is most people don’t notice they’re missing until they try to open their vehicle. A spare key can unlock the car, but if there isn’t one, a replacement key needs to be made.

3. Malfunctioning Lock

If there are no problems with the key, but the door still won’t open, it could be a problem with the physical lock. Over time, the constant use wears down the lock and causes the internal pins to malfunction or break. There are also external factors that can cause it to malfunction, such as dirt and debris getting inside and preventing the key from unlocking it, or an external collision breaks the component. If the damage is too severe, the entire lock needs to be replaced.

4. Failing Fob

Many newer vehicles use keyless fobs and push “start ignition” buttons rather than conventional keys. While these are convenient, the internal batteries that power them die eventually. Most are designed to last up to four years, and if the battery isn’t replaced, drivers get locked out of their vehicle.

5. Broken Key

While keys are designed to be durable, when too much pressure is applied when turning them, they can break inside of the lock. This leaves drivers without a working key and an inaccessible lock. To get back into the vehicle, a spare key is needed, and the broken one has to be removed, which can typically be done using a penetrating oil and needle-nosed pliers.

 

If you’ve experienced a vehicle lockout, then contact OHS Towing in Columbia Falls, MT. As the trusted towing experts in Flathead Valley for more than 40 years, their skilled team provides a variety of roadside assistance services. They’re open 24 hours a day, so no matter when you get locked out, a member of their team will be available to get you back into the vehicle and on the road quickly. Schedule a service by calling (406) 892-1600 or learn more about their services online.