As a vital tool, your vehicle’s ignition key enables mobility and convenience. However, if you are in practice of attaching extra keys to your car’s ignition key, this can have far-reaching consequences that affect safety, performance, and the overall lifespan of your vehicle.
The weight and bulk of extra keys can do damage to the delicate interior components of your ignition cylinder. According to Jake McKenzie, an expert in the field, also the content manager for autoaccessoriesgarage.com, the ignition cylinder isn’t designed to bear significant weight. When heavy keychains are suspended from the ignition, the wear and tear incurred from regular driving, including bumps, turns, and vibrations, gradually erode the intricate inner elements.
Here are some reasons not to fasten other keys to your ignition key:
1. Accelerated Wear and Tear
The ignition process includes turning the ignition cylinder with your key, initiating a complex mechanical sequence. When you attach other keys to your ignition key, this adds unnecessary weight and stress to the ignition mechanism. Over time, this leads to heightened wear and the potential for ignition-related issues, necessitating costly repairs or replacements.
2. Compromised Ignition System:
Modern ignition systems are intricately calibrated to ensure optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency. The addition of extra keys disrupts this delicate balance. The weight and movement of additional keys can cause misalignment and damage to the ignition switch, resulting in ignition system malfunctions, starting difficulties, or even electrical problems.
3. Increased Risk of Ignition Switch Problems:
The ignition switch is not built to endure the constant strain of multiple keys hanging from it. Continuous jostling and movement of these extra keys can lead to the deterioration of the ignition switch’s internal components. This wear and tear manifest as difficulty in turning the key, start-up challenges, or complete ignition switch failure, leaving you stranded and in need of immediate assistance.
4. Jeopardized Vehicle Security:
Consolidating keys might seem convenient, but it jeopardizes your vehicle’s security. In case of key loss or theft, having all your keys together provides easy access not only to your car but also potentially to your home or office.
5. Increased Risk of Key Breakage:
The additional keys hanging from your ignition key make it longer and heavier. This increased length and weight make it more prone to breaking inside the ignition cylinder, particularly when subjected to sudden impacts or jolts. Extracting a broken key from the ignition can be a time-consuming and costly process.
6. Impaired Driving Experience:
The weight and bulk of additional keys hanging from the ignition key can make driving less comfortable and even distracting. In addition, the constant swinging and jostling can damage your vehicle’s interior components over time.
7. Warranty and Insurance Implications:
Some vehicle manufacturers and insurance providers might have clauses in their warranties or coverage agreements pertaining to vehicle modifications and neglect. Attaching extra keys to your ignition key could potentially void your warranty or insurance coverage if ignition-related issues arise.
