My Key Wont Turn In The Ignition Because Of The Steering Wheel Lock
For something as simple as your steering wheel locking, it is not likely to be essential for you to contact a locksmith. It would behoove you to be very patient with performing the process described in the first section of this article .
If you have a new car, it is unlikely that the key or ignition has worn out. But if there is some evidence of a break-in, the reason your ignition key wont turn might not be something as simple as the steering wheel locking. In this case, if you cannot unlock your steering wheel and dont know why your key wont turn in the ignition, this is when you should call a locksmith.
My Key Wont Turn In The Ignition Because Of The Ignition Cylinder
Ignition cylinder issues are some of the most difficult to detect and fix, and it is often overlooked when people are trying to figure out why their car wont start or why their key wont turn in the car ignition. Though it is possible to do this work yourself, a locksmith can solve any complications that rear their head.
Replacing the ignition cylinder can get rather complicated in this specific case, where you cant turn the key in the ignition. Taking the steering wheel covers off, or manipulating the key as needed can create many opportunities to damage your automobile further. When your car key wont turn in the ignition, do not let that lead to needing a mechanic and a whole lot of money. Turn to a locksmith before things get out of hand.
What To Do When Selling A Car With A Key That Wont Turn In The Ignition
Do you have a car sitting out in your driveway right now with a key that wont turn in the ignition? You might not think that this car is worth much at all unless you take the time to repair it. Under normal circumstances, you would be right, as most buyers are going to be scared off by a car with a key that wont turn in the ignition. Theyre not going to pay good money for a car that isnt going to start for them right away. But there are cash buyers who will take this kind of car from you even if it doesnt run at the moment.
If your cars key wont turn in the ignition, give Cash Cars Buyer a call to see how much you can get for it. You might be surprised to see how much well pay you for your car despite its current condition.Contact us today to obtain a fair offer for your vehicle.
Also Check: Automatic Car Wash Equipment Cost
Life Hacks To Repair An Ignition
Since you may not have access to the right tools, or have a friend you can bum a wrench off of, we also compiled a list of our best hacks to make your life easier and drain your pocket less.
- Vehicle keys are tricky business, so having them replaced isnt a job that just anyone can do. Make sure you have a plan to either replace or remake keys
- Dont go wildly yanking away trim pieces in your vehicles interior. There are usually clips holding things together, so youll need to be ginger with them even after removing the screws.
- Some models have different ignition switches for different trims and other specific configurations. For obvious reasons, its important to make sure youve got the right part for your specific vehicle model.
What To Do If Your Ignition Key Wont Turn
You’re on your way to an important event and you get into your car. You get out your key, insert it into the ignition, and the key won’t turn! What’s going on here?
Relax. This happens to people all the time. There are several different causes for a key that won’t turn in the ignition. Let’s go through them and identify the causes of and some solutions for your problem.
Here is RepairPal’s simple guide to help you figure out why your key won’t turn in the ignition.
Key in ignition / Image source
There three main reasons why an ignition key will not turn. These include:
- Issues with related components
- Issues with the key itself
- Issues with the ignition lock cylinder
Safety first! Before you start troubleshooting this problem, make sure that your vehicle has the parking brake applied.
Also Check: What Kind Of Car Did Columbo Drive
Door Or Ignition Locks On Your Subaru Not Working 5 Things To Know In Shingle Springs
May 30, 2019
The door locks and the ignition lock in your Subaru are pretty important. If they’re not working, you may find it difficult to get where you need to go–or even to get into the car at all. There are many reasons that a door lock or ignition lock may not work. For each one, there are specific ways you can deal with the issue. Below, we’ve listed five common problems, as well as the best way to overcome them.
Reasons Why A Key Might Not Turn In Your Ignition
If you try taking your car key out ofyour ignition and putting it back in and it still doesnt turn, itll be clear that you have a slightly bigger problem on your hands. But there still wont be any reason to start panicking just yet. There is still a decent chance that youll be able to get your car key working the way it should again without having to take it in for expensive services or repairs.
There are a bunch of different reasons why a key wont turn in the ignition in your car. You should find out what some of these reasons are so that you can try to fix the issue that youre dealing with yourself. Here are some of the most common causes of a key not turning in an ignition:
Recommended Reading: Equus Throwback Price
What To Try When Your Key Wont Turn Your Ignition
Before calling a locksmith there are several things you can do when your ignition wont turn anymore to see if you can get your ignition to turn.
The following things to try are in order from the best to try first, to the worse to try . Do them in order.
Lets start with the simple ones.
1. Wiggle the Steering Wheel to Unlock the Ignition
Many steering columns are designed to lock when the key is removed. The steering wheel can become stuck in position which in turn locks the ignition. Wiggle the steering wheel back and forth while gently turning the key to see if the key now turns.
If this work, you dont have an ignition or key problem at all, the steering wheel had just locked it up.
2. Check the Gear Shift
Some cars, with automatic transmissions, do not allow the key to turn the ignition if the car is not in park or neutral. Try jiggling the gear shift to ensure it is all the way into position and then try to turn the key again.
3. Is the Battery Dead?
Believe it or not, some newer cars with more advanced ignition systems will stop the key to turn the ignition if the cars battery is dead. You cant even remove the key from the ignition. Check the cars battery with a volt meter or see if your car lights come on.
Now for the more complicated issues that are key and/or ignition related.
4. Try the Spare Key to Turn the Ignition
If your spare key wont turn the ignition, its almost always an ignition issue.
5. Use a Silicon Based Spray in the Lock
7. Hit It
Schedule Ignition Key Does Not Turn Inspection
The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Ignition key does not turn Inspection. Once the problem has been diagnosed, you will be provided with an upfront quote for the recommended fix and receive $20.00 off as a credit towards the repair. YourMechanics technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews… LEARN MORE
Also Check: Something Keeps Draining My Car Battery
The Key Won’t Turn In The Ignition
We’ve covered problems with door locks, but your Subaru may also have an ignition lock that could act up. If you try to turn the key to start your car and are met with resistance, it could be due to a number of things. The precisely-cut key that turns the ignition may have worn down, as could the tumblers in the ignition. This will need to be addressed by a professional; however, there is another possibility.
If your Subaru has an anti-theft immobilizer or push-button start, it may be that the chip in your key isn’t working. If the chip doesn’t function, your Subaru won’t pick up its signal–and therefore it won’t start.
There is one other possibility if the key won’t turn in the ignition, and we go into it below.
Key Stuck In The Ignition
Set Parking Gear
The most common reason for not being able to get the key out is that your cars parking gear is not set.;Confirm your gear selector is set to P or Park on an automatic transmission or the shifter is set to Neutral in a manual transmission.
Jiggle Steering Wheel
If youre sure that you correctly set the gear and the key still wont come out, try slowly jiggling the steering wheel back and forth while you gently pull on the key to remove it. Sometimes when the steering column locks , it puts additional pressure on the ignition lock mechanism and prevents the key from coming out. By slightly moving the steering wheel, the pressure on the lock is removed and the key should slide out.
You May Like: Get Car Title Florida
How Do You Remove An Ignition Cylinder When The Key Wont Turn
On older vehicles pre-2000, most ignition lock sets operated and installed in much the same ways, with some variations. Disconnect the battery and remove the airbag from the steering wheel next. You will need to remove the steering wheel in most cases, which will involve a steering wheel puller, and in the case of most GM vehicles from the 1970s all the way into the 2000s, youll need a lock plate remover.;Both of these;tools are available for rent in AutoZones loan a tool program for absolutely free.
Once you have the airbag and steering wheel out of the way, you can gain access to most ignition locks. From here, there are many variants on the locks themselves. Many manufacturers have a set screw or button to push that allows you to remove the lock cylinder by sliding it out of the column. Some older Ford vehicles require the ignition lock to be in the run position to remove, where if your lock is jammed, or youve lost the key, leaves you with an extra challenge. Follow your repair manual on online;guide to your specific car and swap out the ignition cylinder.
Once you have your new lock cylinder installed, you can test it out.;Try to turn on the car. If it works, you can reconnect everything else including the airbag.
Resolving Issues With The Key
Don’t Miss: Is Car Warranty Worth It
Take Out Your Old Ignition Cylinder And Replace It With A New One
More often than not, the ignition cylinder in a car will last for as long as the car does. Ignition cylinders dont usually fail at any point. But there is always a chance that you might have a faulty ignition cylinder in your vehicle. And that could be the cause of you not being able to turn your car key in your ignition.
Rather than worrying about repairing or replacing your car key, youll need to take the proper steps to replace your ignition cylinder when its not working. The good news is that you shouldnt have to replace your entire ignition assembly to get your cylinder working again. But you will have to take out your old ignition cylinder and put a new one in its place, and youll likely need to hire either a mechanic or a locksmith to assist you with this process.
Find Out If Your Car Key Needs To Be Fixed
When youre having trouble turning a car key in your cars ignition, you might automatically assume that its because of a problem with the ignition. But you could actually have a problem with your car key on your hands thats stopping it from working. You should remove your car key from your ignition and give it a good look to see if anything seems amiss. You could very well find that a piece of your car key has broken off.
If you happen to have a spare key for your car, you should go ahead and give that a try in the ignition. If it turns with ease, then youll know that you need tofix your main car key so that it also works in the ignition. You can call on a locksmith to help you out when it comes to fixing a key. They can get your key working again in no time at all in most cases.
You May Like: How To Transfer Car Title In Az
The Key Won’t Turn In The Lock
If you try to turn the key in the exterior lock, but it doesn’t work, there are several possibilities. The latch or the lock cylinder may be broken, or the mechanism may need to be adjusted. The key itself could also be worn down. All of these should be inspected by an expert. Instead of turning to a locksmith, call the experts at an authorized Subaru service center. They know the inner workings of your Subaru better than just about anyone.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace An Ignition Lock Cylinder
If your key wont turn in car, you may need to replace your ignition lock cylinder. Replacing an ignition lock cylinder;can vary, as older vehicles generally cost around $40.00 for the part and 1-2 hours of labor, taking your cost to around $250. On newer vehicles, the lock cylinder is electronic in the sense that it reads the keys programming. These cylinders, and the keys and programming cost much more.;You can search our list of;Preferred Shops;to check for someone who can do the job.
Also Check: When Do I Get My Car Title
Toyota Vehicle Key And Ignition Common Issues And Solutions
Youre running late, you hope into your Toyota, and your key wont turn in the ignition. It feels stuck or immobile. This problem has happened to many of us, but luckily there is usually an easy fix for this situation. Keep reading below to learn why your key wont turn in the ignition of your Toyota vehicle.;
What’s Going On My Car Key Won’t Turn
- 4,246 Views
Imagine, you are ready to attend the important meeting in your office. You need to rush to office. You just get into your vehicle. Now, you put car key in the ignition, you are trying and trying but are simply unable to turn the car key. What to do? There is nothing in your hand except worry, frustration and car key which is not turning. It may happen to every vehicle owner. Wait.. Simply wait before you frustrate, burst out of your nice attire and hit the head off the key attempting to force it.
You can try more soft and effective approach to tackle the problematic situation. Your vehicle has a steering lock. When the car key is taken out of the ignition, this lock clicks into position. This protects your vehicle from probable theft of being able to steer your vehicle by hotwiring it. Many times, the wheel turns to just the appropriate position to keep your car key from being unable to engage the steering wheel lock. What you need to do is to turn the wheel slightly in either direction while turning the car key. Possibly, this may work out making everything moving once again. Now you are ready to get back to your work!
A worn lock might just require some lubrication to turn correctly. In such case make use of professional lubricant. You can buy W-D 40 from local auto dealer shop. This will help facilitate the smooth sliding of gears. Now, try to turn the key again. If the rust or debris is the problem, then lubricant will solve the problem.
Don’t Miss: How To Transfer Car Title In Az
