Practice Test Geeks(CAL) Certified Automotive Locksmith Practice Test
← All CAL Flashcard Decks

Ignition System Servicing Flashcards

7 cards from real CAL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Ignition System Servicing flashcards as text

  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?

    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.

  2. Which tool is specifically designed to remove a broken key fragment from an ignition cylinder without damaging the tumblers?

    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.

  3. A transponder key is programmed but the vehicle still won't start. The immobilizer light stays on. What is the MOST likely cause?

    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.

  4. What does the term 'ignition cylinder' refer to in automotive locksmith terminology?

    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.

  5. When rekeying an ignition cylinder, a locksmith must ensure all wafers or pins are set to match which specification?

    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.

  6. Which type of ignition lock is most commonly found on older GM vehicles and uses a single-sided key with flat wafer tumblers?

    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.

  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?

    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.