Ignition key stuck, will not move
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Ignition key stuck, will not move
1986 vette, 4+3 manual trans, 44k miles
Last time i removed my key it was a bit difficult to remove, since then when i try to start the lock will not move at all. Steering wheel is locked. I tried turning the wheel and playing with shifting, its in reverse and locked as well.
Security light flashes and i get the chime when i insert my key. Not sure where to look, but im hoping to find some possible causes here.
thanks in advance
Vegas-
Last time i removed my key it was a bit difficult to remove, since then when i try to start the lock will not move at all. Steering wheel is locked. I tried turning the wheel and playing with shifting, its in reverse and locked as well.
Security light flashes and i get the chime when i insert my key. Not sure where to look, but im hoping to find some possible causes here.
thanks in advance
Vegas-
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,699
Likes: 1,667
From: moraga ca
1986 vette, 4+3 manual trans, 44k miles
Last time i removed my key it was a bit difficult to remove, since then when i try to start the lock will not move at all. Steering wheel is locked. I tried turning the wheel and playing with shifting, its in reverse and locked as well.
Security light flashes and i get the chime when i insert my key. Not sure where to look, but im hoping to find some possible causes here.
thanks in advance
Vegas-
Last time i removed my key it was a bit difficult to remove, since then when i try to start the lock will not move at all. Steering wheel is locked. I tried turning the wheel and playing with shifting, its in reverse and locked as well.
Security light flashes and i get the chime when i insert my key. Not sure where to look, but im hoping to find some possible causes here.
thanks in advance
Vegas-
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
The key itself goes in and out fine(tried my spare also with same result) the last time it ran i did notice the key was a bit difficult to remove but it did come out. i tried pulling on the wheel hard both directions, still will not budge.
Cruising
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Taylors SC
Have you tried spraying WD40 into it? I had a problem where some water had gotten into the cylinder and that made it work perfectly fine again. On my first 1994 the switch at the bottom of the column locked up and the key wouldn't turn at all. I had to pull it out and clean it and grease it again. Hopefully that isn't it, because it is a lot of work and some awkward positioning to get to it. Good luck.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies so far, gonna try the wd-40 tomorrow, cars at my brothers atm. If that doesnt work im gonna have to pull the wheel and try to get the lock cylinder out. If i remove the cylinder would it be easy to test it to see if it was jammed? ive read about a few things linked to these kind of problems but until i getinto the column im just guessing
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
you might try removing the reverse arm off the trans first, If you can jack up the left side, and remove the reverse arm that goes to the steering lockout, I hear they can do what you describe occasionally.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Are you sure you tried pulling the steering wheel hard in each direction while removing the key? Sometimes if the steering wheel is off center when the ignition is turned off, the wheel will try to straighten with the power steering shut off and the key will be hard to remove.
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