The key turns but the door will not open
A key that spins with no resistance and does nothing nearly always means the connection between the cylinder and the mechanism has broken: usually the cam or the pin that joins them. The lock can often be repaired, but the door will no longer open on its own and has to be opened from outside.
Qué hacer ahora mismo
- Try from the other side if you can: it narrows down where the fault is
- Do not force it further: if something has snapped, insisting damages the rest
- Notice whether you feel resistance or it spins completely free
- If the door is open, do not close it until it is fixed
The three usual causes
The cam has snapped. This is the part that carries the turn of the cylinder into the mechanism. If it breaks, the key spins in thin air. It is the most common cause.
The fixing screw has worked loose. The screw holding the cylinder to the lock loosens over the years and the assembly goes out of line.
The mechanism has jammed. The bolts do not move even though the cylinder does. This usually comes from a dropped door that has been rubbing for months.
How to tell which
If you turn and feel absolutely no resistance, it is the cam or the fixing. If you feel something move but it stops halfway and grinds, it is the mechanism or the door alignment.
This is not just curiosity: said on the phone, it means you get a realistic price and the right part arrives first time.
It can be avoided
This failure nearly always gives warning. Before it breaks, the lock spends weeks being hard to turn or needing the door lifted to close. Dealing with it then costs a fraction of an emergency.
Would you rather someone looked at it?
Esto entra dentro de lock repair.Call and I will tell you the cost before I set off.
Frequently asked questions
Can it be repaired or does the lock need changing?
If it is the cam or the fixing, it can often be repaired by replacing that part. If the mechanism is damaged, it has to be changed.
The door is open — can I close it?
Better not. If the mechanism is failing and you close it, you can end up locked out and turn a booked repair into an emergency.