Key broken off in the ignition?

MINNER1980

MEMBER
2014 DODGE AVENGER
2.4L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
165,000 MILES

Okay, so here is the deal: I bought the car. It had 123,000 miles and had little issues but nothing major. Someone decided to break the key off in the ignition. Well, I didn't have the money to get it fixed immediately so I would just hold the fob up to the ignition and key if tilter everything then take it down to drive. Well, I was told one day it would stop and nothing would go anymore. Well, sure it did I was going down the highway 75 miles an hour all then suddenly I was pressing gas and nothing but had all power electrical. The security light came on, the car wouldn't go and would not start anymore. So in turn I went and got a used key ignition with that key fob cut to that ignition it was all together. And when we tried to take tumbler out of the other ignition module holder deal and the tumbler was broke off in the housing so a lock smith got it all out for me and put the used one I just about in and I brought it home and put it all together and put the old chip out of the broken key fob and put it in the new key and it would work the alarm bit only if it was in the ignition.
But the light would still blink on security. So, I had a locksmith come to the house and he hooked the key reader machine to the car, and it showed 2 or 3 errors that he said he just reset and that it took, and he was able to successfully fix it and make the key program to the car. So, we turned the key off and removed it and put it back I to the ignition switch and then it on and the security back on. He said he pays for all possible fix programs he has to, and he did everything in his capabilities to do what was needed and that I hadn't damaged the ringbor anything so that was good, and it was something more than he could do probably have to go to dealer. Then through some recent research I discovered information that possibly the emu needed replaced or redone or the relay was bad possibly and I am in the middle of moving and going back to work and need my car desperately but am on very tight budget. And can do repairs on my own within reason. Can you please help?

1 Reply

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,643 POSTS

So, is the security light flashing? You can try a hard reboot which is done by removing the negative side of the battery, with the cable loose from the negative side of the battery, hold it to the positive terminal for 1 minute this will discharge the memory capacitors in the BCM and PCM allowing the system to reboot.

Here is a guide that can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-reset-a-security-system

Also, we need the trouble codes. Can you please follow this guide and give me the codes that come up? You can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) from Amazon.

Here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Here is a list of CAN scanners starting at about $25.00 on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3DBMlc7

It sounds like you've gone through a lot to try and fix your car and it's not starting. There could be a number of things that could be causing the issue. If you're on a tight budget, you can try checking a few things yourself.

Check the battery to see if it's charged and has enough voltage to start the engine.

Make sure all the connections to the battery are clean and tight.

Check the starter and see if it's getting power and working properly.

Inspect the wiring and look for any signs of damage or fraying.

Please let us know what happens.