Grrrrrrrrrr. I drove the car to the local post office and everything was fine. I went in for a few minutes, come outside, put the key in the ignition and it will not turn at all. I tried locking and unlocking the car, still nothing. I made sure it's in park, went through all the others R, N, 3,2 etc...
What could this be? Some weird security feature? I even tried setting off the panic alarm and disarming it....no change.
thanks
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11:22 AM
PFF
System Bot
GT86 Member
Posts: 5203 From: Glendale, AZ Registered: Mar 2003
Did you try turning (well, more like wiggling) the wheel? Sometimes when the wheel locks, it interferes with the ignition lock.
My guess is you have pressure on the steering wheel that is putting pressure on the ignition cylinder. Follow GT86's advice, wiggle that steering wheel while trying to turn the key. If not that, I'm guessing but you may have a worn out tumbler/ingintion lock cylinder.
Ron
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11:28 AM
Hulki U. My-BFF Member
Posts: 5949 From: Back home in East Berlin, PA Registered: Apr 2008
Are your front wheels pulled up against a curb? I had this happen once, and had to jack the front end up and get the wheels out of the tension they were in to allow the steering wheel to release it's tension.
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11:31 AM
86GT3.4DOHC Member
Posts: 10007 From: Marion Ohio Registered: Apr 2004
Ive seen this several times, usually with the wheels turned one way or the other, and the wheel is trying to go straight, so the lock has pressure on it, making it hard to turn. Though it sounds like you've allready done this, all you have to do in these instances is turn the wheel away while turning the key.
Chrysler used to make keys that only go in one way, if you had it upside down they could goof up the ignition. If they still were in 99, is the key right side up? I screwed up a 91 Shadow's ignition that way.
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12:12 PM
blackrams Member
Posts: 32965 From: Covington, TN, USA Registered: Feb 2003
Never had a problem in my '98 sebring, but '01 aztek had this happen in the driveway. No luck with anything. Finally I had to take it to a shop and have them drill out the lock. They tried for a few hours and then just drilled. $240.
Hammer and the screwdriver worked. Now I just have to wonder if this is going to start happening all the time, or just a fluke.
Funny you should mention getting the right car. I got a friend to drive me back to my car, and while were there someone walks over, keys in hand and starts trying to get into my friends car. I told my friend to turn around because someone was stealing her car, and she spun around and laughed because it was an older lady. The lady realized her mistake and apologized and walked further up the road to her own car, which was not even close to my friends car.
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01:20 PM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99