Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a jingle-heavy key ring dangling from your car’s ignition.
You know the drill:
House keys
Gate key
Storage unit key
Flashlight
Maybe even a bottle opener or two
It’s convenient — all your keys in one place.
But here’s the thing:
That convenience might be quietly damaging your car.
And I didn’t realize it until I read this simple but shocking piece of advice from Jack McKenzie of AutoAccessoriesGarage.com :
“Too many keys on your ignition key ring can damage the ignition cylinder over time.”
And once I learned why…
I went home and cut the ring .
⚙️ What’s Really Happening Inside Your Ignition
Your car’s ignition switch — whether you're using a traditional key or a modern push-button fob — is a mechanical component designed to do one job:
Turn the car on and off.
It wasn’t built to support extra weight.
Every time your key is in the ignition and you hit a bump or take a sharp turn…
That heavy key ring pulls down on the cylinder.
And over time?
That constant stress leads to real problems.
💥 The Hidden Damage of a Cluttered Key Ring:
