Ignition Key Won't Turn in Vehicles

A failed attempt Vehicles turning the ignition key in your Vehicles indicates internal damage to the lock cylinder. This type of damage typically happens from forcing the cylinder to turn while the steering wheel is in the locked position. The lock cylinder has many gears within it that can easily get knocked off track. Failing to unlock the steering wheel before you turn the key will cause such an action to occur. You can remove the lock cylinder in your Vehicles with a few tools right Vehicles home.

Under The Hood:

• Ignition Key Won't Turn in a 2000 Ford Focus
• My Key Won't Turn in My Honda's Ignition
• The Key Won't Turn in My Mercedes Ignition
• The Key Won't Turn in My Suzuki Verona

 Ignition Key Won't Turn in a 2000 Ford Focus

Lift the hood on your 2000 model Focus and locate the battery. Remove the negative cable on your car's battery with a socket wrench. Position the cable away from its connecting post.

Open the driver's door on the Focus and kneel down in the doorway facing the steering wheel. Below the steering wheel, you should see a rectangular piece of trim that mounts against the dashboard. This is called the knee-panel.

Remove the four bolts at the bottom lip of the knee-panel with your socket wrench. Pull the knee-panel away from the dashboard. Set the panel with its four bolts to the side, away from your immediate working space.

Remove the two screws from the lower steering column shroud with a Phillips screwdriver. The lower shroud is the piece of trim that covers the bottom of your Focus's steering wheel.

Insert your Focus's ignition key into the lock cylinder and turn it forward into position 1. If you look at the top of your Focus's lock cylinder two inches from the key, you should see a small hole. Within the hole as you look down into it, you should see a small notch. Stick the blade of a small flat-head screwdriver down into the hole and push down on the notch. While you have the notch pressed down, grab the ignition key--without turning it--and pull the lock cylinder outward to remove it.

 My Key Won't Turn in My Honda's Ignition

Put your hand on the steering wheel and turn it in both directions while trying to turn the ignition switch. This will help unlock the steering pin in vehicles that have power steering.

Spray the inside of the key lock with pressurized air spray to loosen any dirt and debris inside the key lock. You can purchase this at any office supplies store.

Clean the key with soap and water and then dry with a towel. Rub a lock lubricant, available at any home improvement or auto repair shop, on the key.

Maneuver the key in and out of the ignition while trying to turn it.

Use a spare key in the car's ignition. The key you use often to start your Honda may wear down and will not trigger the ignition. If a spare key works, have more copies made at your local home improvement store.

 The Key Won't Turn in My Mercedes Ignition

Remove the key from the ignition.

Spray a small amount of WD-40 onto the key blade.

Insert the key into the ignition and jiggle. The WD-40 provides lubrication, making it easier to turn the key.

Visit your local Mercedes dealership to have a replacement key made. Keys may become worn over time, making it difficult to turn the ignition.

 The Key Won't Turn in My Suzuki Verona

Check your keys to make sure you have the right set. Use a distinguishing key chain or other marker on your keys so you know which one is yours.

Place the gears in park or neutral. Most cars won't start unless they are in one of these two gears.

Examine the teeth on your car keys to see if they have worn down. If so, they may cause the tumbler assembly to misfire. This locks the ignition in place. Use your replacement key or order a new one to fix the situation.

Use a pressurized air can inside the ignition keyhole to remove trapped dust. Even slight amounts of dust or debris can cause the the ignition to lock in place.

Turn your wheel in the opposite direction, if it is turned all the way to the left or the right. Turning your wheel to either extreme can cause pressure on some of the mechanisms inside the steering column, including the ignition switch.