Expert: Gary Walta - 7/11/2001

Question
The key to my '93 Saturn station wagon broke off in the lock on the back door of the wagon. The same key is used for the ignition and the front doors.  I don't want to replace the back door lock because then I'd have to use different keys for different locks on the car.  Is there any way to remove the broken key from the lock without damaging the lock?  And could I possibly do this myself?  

Answer
Hi Terry:

Extracting broken keys from car door locks is a very common event in my business. We (locksmiths) have special key extraction tools designed to remove the broken key in a matter of seconds in many cases, while in other cases it can take up to an hour.

Fortunately for you, your key is broken off in the back door, which is a simple extraction for me, but may not be for you. The special tools we use as far as I know aren't available to the general public in most places.

If you have another key, you will save money by driving your car to a locksmith shop and having it done there.

Attempting to get the key out yourself can do more harm than good. All I can recommend as far as doing it yourself is not to do something silly like trying to pry the lock open with a screwdriver thinking that you are going to do any good. Especially with the Saturn. Those cars are made of plastic and fiberglass and have to literally be taken apart at the shell in order to replace the locks. I've seen it too many times where people thought they were going to save money by becoming a do-it-yourself locksmith and it ended up costing them hundreds in dollars to repair the damage they did to their cars.

Bottom line recommendation:

Drive your car over to your local locksmith shop and have it done quickly, inexpensively and properly the first time. You have a cool car and you obviously care about it or you wouldnt have stopped to ask questions first. In that back lock, a professional should have the broken key out in seconds. Have some spares made while you're there.

Hope I helped. Let me know how it turns out.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com

Gary