Pennock's Fiero Forum
  Totally O/T - Archive
  Put key in ignition and it won't turn. 99 Sebring Convertible

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Email This Page to Someone! | Printable Version


Put key in ignition and it won't turn. 99 Sebring Convertible by Gecko
Started on: 11-17-2008 11:22 AM
Replies: 13
Last post by: rogergarrison on 11-17-2008 01:32 PM
Gecko
Member
Posts: 5954
From: New Jersey
Registered: Aug 2004


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 99
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:22 AM Click Here to See the Profile for GeckoSend a Private Message to GeckoDirect Link to This Post
1999 Sebring Convertible JX.

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
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
GT86
Member
Posts: 5203
From: Glendale, AZ
Registered: Mar 2003


Feedback score:    (10)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 165
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:24 AM Click Here to See the Profile for GT86Send a Private Message to GT86Direct Link to This Post
Did you try turning (well, more like wiggling) the wheel? Sometimes when the wheel locks, it interferes with the ignition lock.
IP: Logged
Gecko
Member
Posts: 5954
From: New Jersey
Registered: Aug 2004


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 99
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:27 AM Click Here to See the Profile for GeckoSend a Private Message to GeckoDirect Link to This Post
wiggle it, beat on it, yell at it.......no change. But I just read this so I am going to run back over.

"The tow truck guy actually fixed this. He took a small hammer and struck the lock cylinder. Said the tumblers were out of whack."

http://www.automotiveforums...urn_in_ignition.html


be right back......keep the answers coming just incase this doesn't work.
IP: Logged
blackrams
Member
Posts: 32965
From: Covington, TN, USA
Registered: Feb 2003


Feedback score:    (9)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 230
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:28 AM Click Here to See the Profile for blackramsSend a Private Message to blackramsDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by GT86:

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

IP: Logged
Hulki U. My-BFF
Member
Posts: 5949
From: Back home in East Berlin, PA
Registered: Apr 2008


Feedback score:    (25)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 248
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:30 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Hulki U. My-BFFSend a Private Message to Hulki U. My-BFFDirect Link to This Post
Stinkin' Chryslers. j/k
IP: Logged
maryjane
Member
Posts: 70104
From: Copperas Cove Texas
Registered: Apr 2001


Feedback score: (4)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 441
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:31 AM Click Here to See the Profile for maryjaneSend a Private Message to maryjaneDirect Link to This Post
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.
IP: Logged
86GT3.4DOHC
Member
Posts: 10007
From: Marion Ohio
Registered: Apr 2004


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 306
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:32 AM Click Here to See the Profile for 86GT3.4DOHCSend a Private Message to 86GT3.4DOHCDirect Link to This Post
Sure they gave you the right car Saturday? Lol

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.
IP: Logged
FieroRumor
Member
Posts: 35007
From: New York
Registered: Dec 2001


Feedback score: (2)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 348
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 11:46 AM Click Here to See the Profile for FieroRumorClick Here to visit FieroRumor's HomePageSend a Private Message to FieroRumorDirect Link to This Post
Wiggle the Gear shifter thingie too. It might not know what gear it's in (it might think its in Drive or something)

or it might be the Position sensor itself...


The battery's ok, right?

maybe disconnect the battery, dance around like that 'river dance guy", then connect it again...

I had this happen in a car, I forget if it was the Sebring or the Skyhawk... tunring the wheel was the fix...


http://www.autotropolis.com...ms/thread/30920.aspx

http://en.allexperts.com/q/...Key-won-t-turn-1.htm

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 11-17-2008).]

IP: Logged
rogergarrison
Member
Posts: 49601
From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio
Registered: Apr 99


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 551
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 12:06 PM Click Here to See the Profile for rogergarrisonSend a Private Message to rogergarrisonDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Hulki U. My-BFF:

Stinkin' Chryslers. j/k


It happened in my Fiero (Ferrari) and my Corvette Made sure it was jammed in park and turned the wheel back and forth while trying to turn key.

IP: Logged
2.5
Member
Posts: 43235
From: Southern MN
Registered: May 2007


Feedback score: (1)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 184
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 12:12 PM Click Here to See the Profile for 2.5Send a Private Message to 2.5Direct Link to This Post
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.
IP: Logged
blackrams
Member
Posts: 32965
From: Covington, TN, USA
Registered: Feb 2003


Feedback score:    (9)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 230
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 12:16 PM Click Here to See the Profile for blackramsSend a Private Message to blackramsDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by FieroRumor:
maybe disconnect the battery, dance around like that 'river dance guy", then connect it again...


I just gotta know, did the dancing help?

Ron
IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
jaskispyder
Member
Posts: 21510
From: Northern MI
Registered: Jun 2002


Feedback score:    (22)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 205
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 12:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jaskispyderSend a Private Message to jaskispyderDirect Link to This Post
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.

Sigh....

J.
IP: Logged
Gecko
Member
Posts: 5954
From: New Jersey
Registered: Aug 2004


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 99
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 01:20 PM Click Here to See the Profile for GeckoSend a Private Message to GeckoDirect Link to This Post
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.

IP: Logged
rogergarrison
Member
Posts: 49601
From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio
Registered: Apr 99


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 551
Rate this member

Report this Post11-17-2008 01:32 PM Click Here to See the Profile for rogergarrisonSend a Private Message to rogergarrisonDirect Link to This Post
On my vette, i just sprayed some silicone lube in the key slot for the hell of it. It never did it again for 4 years.
IP: Logged



All times are ET (US)

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Contact Us | Back To Main Page

Advertizing on PFF | Fiero Parts Vendors
PFF Merchandise | Fiero Gallery
Real-Time Chat | Fiero Related Auctions on eBay



Copyright (c) 1999, C. Pennock