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Stuck at work! Key won't turn in ignition

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100DashSix

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So I went out in the 91 degree weather to get some lunch and discovered that my key will no longer turn the ignition in my B! Perhaps the intense heat in the car caused some parts to expand a bit? The ignition has been somewhat tempremental before, but that was only when the wheel lock was engaged (and then wiggling the steering wheel freed it).

I'm rather keen on going home for the weekend, so I'd appreciate advice on the subject...I could hotwire the car, but how would I get around the wheel lock? Unfortunately, the road home isn't a perfectly straight one.
 
Wiggle it? My key goes in and when I turn it the pump comes on. I then need to pull it out a little, wiggle it around and she starts right up.
Nunyas. Ya out there? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
Try turning the wheel left & right while wiggling.

Maybe the steering wheel lock is jammed???(is your front tire wedged against the curb)

Rats......I see you have tried that already /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/square.gif
 
Son has one that you have to stick all the way in then pull out just a bit??
 
Is the key all the way in? Maybe a tumbler fell. Know any locksmiths?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Wiggle it? My key goes in and when I turn it the pump comes on. I then need to pull it out a little, wiggle it around and she starts right up.
Nunyas. Ya out there? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

hmmm? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif I'm not sure how to help with this situation. I've only had the key not turn at all for me on a couple of occassions, and that's only because the steering lock had engaged. In that situation jiggling the steering wheel allowed me to turn the key.

I normally encounter a sticking point just before ignition 'On' posistion though, but it doesn't take a lot of effort to turn past that and power up the electrical system.

I believe I had 1 other occassion where the key did not go in correctly and it did not allow me to turn the iggy switch at all. I can't remember the details of the situation other than my thinking "What the heck is going on?" The key seemed stuck in the iggy, and it wouldn't turn at all. I think I managed to just jiggle the key enough to get the tumblers to let it go. Sorry, I can't remember clear details on the situation, but it only happened once, struck me as odd, and was quickly resolved without any undue stress.

I hope ya get it figured out and don't have to sleep in the office all weekend... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif
 
Remove the shroud around the steering column. You will see two slightly conehead shaped bolts holding the steering lock onto the column. Remove the ignition switch from the steering lock, slot the two bolts with a dremel tool or something similar. Use a standard screwdriver to remove the bolts. Remove the steering lock. You can now use a screwdriver to start your car. Take the lock into a locksmith and find out if repairing is better than replacing. I used cap screws to replace the shear bolts on my steering lock, they are available at a hardware store.
 
Kimberly, he's at work... Reminds me of the scene from "Galaxy Quest" where Tim Allen is trying to figure out how to defeat the rock monster in the desert. Crewman #6 says "Can you find something to construct a rudimentary lathe with?"......
 
My question was going to be: what tools do you have with you...then my suggestion was gonna be the one Kimberly explained.
 
Wray -

Does his job have a maintenance staff? If yes, maintenance may have what he needs.

On occasion I would called off the shop floor to fix something in the administrative building or the parking lot.
Putting air in flat tires, jump starting cars, making a slim jims to get into a car when someone locked their keys inside, repairing an item not owned by the company were not part of my normal duties, but were at times required just because it was the human thing to do.

Kimberly
 
also make sure the key didnt get bent.



mark
 
Well east coast time it is now about 6:30 PM. Guess he is home one way or another.
 
Ah! I did indeed escape a fate of a weekend there, but my car is still sitting in the lot! (Got a ride home from the deputy director, who was going my way) Thanks for all the advice, especially on how to remove the steering lock, Kimberly. I'll probably do that tomorrow, rather than call a locksmith and have him or her come to the car. I do carry a number of emergency tools with me (spare parts, electrical stuff, wrench and socket set, picnic blanket), but didn't have anything to slot the bolts with anyway.

In the building there are many tools, and probably a dremel somewhere, but I'll bring my own, and a power inverter + extension chord to run it off my other car.
 
You may have to remove the steering wheel to get the cowl off - especially if your cowl has a lip that goes inside the wheel hub....other than that, Kimberly was spot on!
 
Hmm, cowl, eh? What does that look like? You don't mean the two plastic coverings that go around the column and everything, do you?
 
[ QUOTE ]
You don't mean the two plastic coverings that go around the column and everything, do you?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep - ignition is inside them...that's where you'll find the 2 bolts Kimberly was talking about - where you want to break them off if they're not already broken off to make the slot with your Dremel tool.
 
Ah good; I've taken the shroud off once already, without removing the steering wheel.

How hard is it to turn the bolts, once they're slotted? I don't want to strip the make-shift screw (if I dremel the top poorly).
 
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