Key is stuck...please help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 10
From: Grafton MA
Key is stuck...please help
I just finished replacing the driver's side lower dash in my '71. I started the car to test the lights, tach, headlight switch etc.....everything's working fine. Then, I went to shut off the car and can't!! The key is stuck and i can't switch it into the off position or remove the key. Not sure if i screwed something up when i loosened the steering column to remove the lower dash. Please help!
Paul
Paul
Pro
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 683
Likes: 114
From: Hamilton Ohio
Try turning the wheel side to side while pulling on the key, and if it's an automatic, check and make sure it's in park really well. Hope this helps, although you may have already tried these things.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 833
From: WI
That happened to me the first time I looked at my car. Not only that, it wouldn't shut off! It turned another buyer off at the time. I tried everything and eventually had to replace the key cylinder assembly.
Mark G
Mark G
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Thanks , I had this happen once myself. :o
Great
What was pinched ? In my case i had just loosened the column and speedo/tach cluster to aid in removing the center cluster,when I snugged everything back up the key bound up. The owner of the car had a radio installed and the installers ran the antenna wire across the top and it pinched the rod when it moved to a new position.
Great
What was pinched ? In my case i had just loosened the column and speedo/tach cluster to aid in removing the center cluster,when I snugged everything back up the key bound up. The owner of the car had a radio installed and the installers ran the antenna wire across the top and it pinched the rod when it moved to a new position.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 10
From: Grafton MA
Great What was pinched ? In my case i had just loosened the column and speedo/tach cluster to aid in removing the center cluster,when I snugged everything back up the key bound up. The owner of the car had a radio installed and the installers ran the antenna wire across the top and it pinched the rod when it moved to a new position
. Thanks again for your helpDoing this made me realize one of these days I need to spend a little more time trying to figure out how to get the reverse saftey lock working again.
Last edited by pwsusi; Dec 25, 2010 at 07:37 AM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
From: Richmond Va
There is an ignition rod that runs along the steering column, from the key ignition switch, down the column and into the ignition/harness. This rod/ignition module on the column is spring loaded and when you turn the key to start the car, it send power to the starter, and once you let off, it cuts the circuit to the solenoid. If the rod is jammed or pinched, it will not move freely and will not allow full release so the key will not come out of the key cylinder in the column.
