CAL Ignition System Servicing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a customer's vehicle has a stuck ignition cylinder that won't turn even with the correct key, what is the FIRST step a locksmith should take?
- Immediately drill the cylinder
- Check if the steering wheel is locked and apply light pressure to relieve it (Correct answer)
- Apply penetrating oil and wait 30 minutes
- Remove the steering column cover and cut the ignition wires
Correct answer: Check if the steering wheel is locked and apply light pressure to relieve it
A locked steering column creates binding pressure on the ignition cylinder, and relieving that pressure by slightly turning the wheel allows the key to rotate freely.
Question 2: Which tool is specifically designed to remove a broken key fragment from an ignition cylinder without damaging the tumblers?
- Slim jim
- Key extractor (Correct answer)
- Plug follower
- Decoder pick
Correct answer: Key extractor
Key extractors have hooked or barbed tips designed to grip and remove broken key fragments from lock cylinders without harming internal components.
Question 3: A transponder key is programmed but the vehicle still won't start. The immobilizer light stays on. What is the MOST likely cause?
- The key blade is cut incorrectly
- The transponder chip is not seated properly in the key head (Correct answer)
- The battery in the key fob is dead
- The ignition switch is faulty
Correct answer: The transponder chip is not seated properly in the key head
If the transponder chip is loose or improperly seated, the antenna ring cannot reliably read the chip's signal, causing the immobilizer to remain active.
Question 4: What does the term 'ignition cylinder' refer to in automotive locksmith terminology?
- The electrical switch behind the dash that controls power
- The mechanical tumbler-based lock that accepts the key and connects to the switch (Correct answer)
- The ignition coil that generates spark
- The push-button starter module
Correct answer: The mechanical tumbler-based lock that accepts the key and connects to the switch
The ignition cylinder is the mechanical lock housing containing wafer or pin tumblers that align when the correct key is inserted, allowing the cylinder to rotate.
Question 5: When rekeying an ignition cylinder, a locksmith must ensure all wafers or pins are set to match which specification?
- The VIN-derived bitting code
- The new key's cuts or depths (Correct answer)
- The factory default combination
- The owner's preferred security level
Correct answer: The new key's cuts or depths
Rekeying requires replacing the wafers or pins with those that correspond precisely to the new key's bitting depths so the cylinder turns only with that key.
Question 6: Which type of ignition lock is most commonly found on older GM vehicles and uses a single-sided key with flat wafer tumblers?
- Sidebar lock
- Tubular lock
- Wafer tumbler lock (Correct answer)
- Disc detainer lock
Correct answer: Wafer tumbler lock
GM vehicles traditionally used wafer tumbler ignition locks that accept single-sided flat keys, making them among the most common ignition types a locksmith encounters.
Question 7: A locksmith is called to rekey a Ford ignition that uses an 8-cut key. How many different depth positions are typically available per cut on most Ford 8-cut systems?
- 3
- 4
- 6 (Correct answer)
- 10
Correct answer: 6
Ford's standard 8-cut key system uses 6 depth levels (0–5 or 1–6 depending on the generation), giving a large number of possible key combinations.
CAL Ignition System Servicing 2
When a customer's vehicle has a stuck ignition cylinder that won't turn even with the correct key, what is the FIRST step a locksmith should take?