I went to leave work today and my ignition key would not turn. Does anyone know why this might be?

Once I was using the wrong key. Another time I had absentmindedly shifted out of Park. Still another time my gearshift was just a bit out of Park. Once I "wiggled" it back into place, the key turned and the car started.

OK now that I've looked it up, it seems all I need is to hit the key with a rubber mallet at least as a temporary fix.

Rubber mallet? Doesn't sound good for the ignition...

Is the wheel locked?

... just in case... is it your own car?

I'd hate to ask, but my dad did this once with my neighbor's car... they have the same car with the same color and they park on the curb... neighbor left his car open... yeah.

Can you get it to lossen or turn if you try to crank the wheel some?. had a pathfinder that did that sometimes. You'd just turn the steering wheel a little and the key at the same time and it worked.

I know this probably isn't the issue, but it could be... and I know my answer doesn't explain why at all.

Only reason I posted this is I gave it to a friend to use and he didn't know about that trick and called me hurried cause he thought hed miss work.

So far my car is still sitting at work and unable to start. At least 12 or more people have tried moving the steering wheel back and forth, rocking the car, shooting air in the key hole, of course the rubber mallet thing, unhooking one of the battery cables,everything and nothing has worked. Guess I'll be calling a locks smith.

But there is some good news. A guy took off the center compartment thing where the gear shift is and found almost $40! Apparently who ever own the car before me put the money in the cup holder then when they closed it the money fell in the empty space. I know it wasn't my money 'cause I never carry any.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stonewilder

But there is some good news. A guy took off the center compartment thing where the gear shift is and found almost $40! Apparently who ever own the car before me put the money in the cup holder then when they closed it the money fell in the empty space. I know it wasn't my money 'cause I never carry any.

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Crazy. Guess you get to put that $$ toward the locksmith... but still funny.

I lived in a house after my cousin had lived there for three years. Several months after id been there I decided to rearrange and clean the walk in closet. When I took the boards off a shelf I found an old envelope with $80 inside. Money was about 25 years old, apparently placed for "safe keeping" under the closet shelf by some long gone owner. My cousin was grumpy.

I told him if only he had deep cleaned the place once in a while he probably wouldve found it.

I would have to ask if the ignition lock cylinder or the ignition key, or both, are worn and the tumblers don't align?
Have you had a locksmith (Pop-a-Lock or AAA?) look at it yet?