The Key Won't Turn! (Ignition Problems)
June 5, 2022
You've just arrived at the store shopping and you're ready to head home. You put your key in the ignition and… oh, no! The ignition won't turn! What do you do now?
Don't panic. There are some things you can do to get going again. The first thing to do is see if you have a locking steering wheel, an anti-theft feature that was introduced around 1970. Sometimes it sticks. Move the steering wheel side to side while you try to turn the key and you might be able to get it to release.
Another thing to check is to see if your vehicle is in gear. Most vehicles will only allow you to start the ignition if it's in park or neutral. If you have an automatic transmission vehicle and it is in park, try jiggling the shift lever and try the key again. Sometimes the safety mechanism doesn't properly make contact or gets a little sloppy.
If both of these don't work, it could be your vehicle's battery is dead. Some newer electronic systems require power so the key can turn. Others have alarm systems that detect if doors are open.
Other issues that can cause key problems include something jammed in the lock cylinder. Or some of the springs or pins inside may be stuck. Consider that it may be the key itself. Sometimes they get bent or simply wear out from the number of times they've been put in and taken out of the cylinder.
No matter what the cause, the first time this happens you should have your repair service facility check it out. That’s because if it happens once, it can happen again. Even if you were able to get going again on your own, your ignition/key has warned you that something's wrong. Have it checked out by a pro so you’re not locked into a bad situation.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
If You Drive Like a Maniac (Aggressive Driving is Bad for a Vehicle)
August 10, 2025
When someone mentions driving like a maniac, they're not talking about you, surely? Besides the safety issues of aggressive driving, you should know that your vehicle will last a lot longer if you'll just mellow out a little. Here are four traits good drivers follow if they want their vehicles t... More
That Squeal is Telling You Something (What Causes Squealing While Steering)
August 3, 2025
If you hear a squealing noise when you turn your vehicle, it's trying to tell you something is wrong. After all, it never made that noise before, right? The sound you hear may becoming from a few sources. Let's take a look (or a listen) to some of the possibilities. First, you almost certainl... More
A Bright Spark (Ignition Coil Replacement)
July 27, 2025
Ever wonder how your vehicles engine is able to take the 12-volts from its battery and ramp that up to as high as the tens of thousands of volts it takes to fire its spark plugs? The secret is something called an ignition coil. Most newer vehicles have an ignition coil at each cylinder, but olde... More