Car keyrings may seem like a small accessory, but they can say a lot about a person. Whether it’s a sleek leather fob, a quirky novelty charm, or a personalised tag, the right keyring adds a touch of personality to your everyday essentials. Beyond style, keyrings also serve a practical purpose—helping you keep track of your keys, making them easier to find in a bag, and sometimes even offering extra functions like bottle openers or mini torches. Sometimes though people go over the top and have a large, bulky, heavy mass of keys all on one ring. I personally prefer to keep my car keys separate from my house keys, but others like to lump them all in together.
While many modern cars have a keyless entry system with a push-button ignition, older vehicles still use a traditional key to start the engine. And if your set of car keys is too heavy – cluttered with souvenirs, tools, and photos of family members – you could be placing extreme stress on the vehicle’s ignition switch and electrical system.
The warning comes from Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, who says a car’s ignition barrel – where you insert the key to start the vehicle – can become so damaged by heavy keyrings that it needs to be completely replaced.
Mr Conway explains: “Although vehicles are built to be durable, the ignition cylinder isn’t designed to handle the constant downward pull of heavy keyrings. Each time you hit a bump, drive over a pothole, or even accelerate and brake, the stresses placed on the ignition increase, gradually wearing-out internal components.
“Over time, this strain can cause the ignition switch to become loose or misaligned, making it harder to turn the key or to even start the car. In more severe cases, prolonged stress can lead to ignition switch failure, requiring costly repairs or even a full ignition cylinder replacement.”
Overloading your car keys doesn’t just strain the ignition cylinder, it can also damage the key itself. The constant weight and movement can cause your key to bend or even break inside the ignition, which could leave you unable to start the car.
Select Car Leasing explains: “If this happens, the broken fragment of metal will need to be removed, usually by a professional, as attempting to extract it yourself could cause further damage.
“Excess strain on the ignition lock can also mean your key fails to engage altogether, potentially leaving you stranded. In rare cases, a severely worn ignition switch could cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while driving, posing a serious safety risk to you and other road users.
“If you need to repair or replace your ignition switch, you may be looking at some expensive repairs. Costs can vary depending on the issue and your vehicle’s make and model. Ignition switch repairs typically range from £100 to £250, while a full replacement could cost between £150 and £400.”
The advice from Select Car Leasing is to keep your keyrings light, ideally limiting it to just your car key. For those who don’t want to part with their collection, a detachable keyring is a great solution. This allows you to separate the heavier keyrings from your car key while driving, reducing stress on the ignition.
It’s also important to watch for early warning signs of damage. If your key starts feeling stiff in the ignition or the switch feels loose or wobbly, reduce the weight immediately to prevent further wear.
Motorists have also been warned not to attach multiple transmitters or fobs to a single key ring as it could lead to radio frequency interference (RFI) disrupting the signal between your fob and your car.
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