Key won't turn in the ignition
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Key won't turn in the ignition
I just sold my 1969 Corvette, and the new owner called to say he couldn't get the key to turn in the ignition. I never had a problem with this during the 10 years I owned the car.
Of course I told him to try spinning the steering wheel a little to loosen the key, but that didn't work. Any other ideas?
Of course I told him to try spinning the steering wheel a little to loosen the key, but that didn't work. Any other ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Tell him that you have to be in PARK with an auto trans or in REVERSE with manual trans in order to get the key out.
Otherwise, have him go out under the hood and look under the brake master cylinder. There is a lever sticking out of the lower end of the steering column. Remove the cotter pin and release the cable from the pin on the lever. Pull up on the lever. It may have come loose from the cable from the transmission or the cable may be corroded and sticking.
That should allow the key to be rotated from OFF to the OFF-LOCK position.
Jim
Otherwise, have him go out under the hood and look under the brake master cylinder. There is a lever sticking out of the lower end of the steering column. Remove the cotter pin and release the cable from the pin on the lever. Pull up on the lever. It may have come loose from the cable from the transmission or the cable may be corroded and sticking.
That should allow the key to be rotated from OFF to the OFF-LOCK position.
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 0
From: Cut n Shoot TX
Are you saying he can't turn the key to the starting position, or can't turn the key far enough to the off position to get it out?
If he tried forcing the door lock key in, he may have messed up the tumblers. Warranty would not cover that!!
If he tried forcing the door lock key in, he may have messed up the tumblers. Warranty would not cover that!!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
He couldn't turn the key to the starting position.
It turns out, he had the car on a tow dolly and the front wheels were jammed at an awkward angle. Once he rolled the car off the dolly, the key turned with no problem.
It turns out, he had the car on a tow dolly and the front wheels were jammed at an awkward angle. Once he rolled the car off the dolly, the key turned with no problem.
