Lovely. I come home from a nice jog, put the top up (thank GOD), but for some reason don't put the windows up yet. My glovebox was locked and I needed something out of it, so I took the key out of the ignition, unlocked my glovebox, then put it back in the ignition to turn the car on in order to put my windows up.

One problem. The key will NOT turn. It turns about 1/4 of the way between off and the 1st on position (indicated with a 'I', I believe), but then is STUCK. I naturally tried moving the steering wheel, nothing. Put the car in neutral, rolled it a tiny bit, tried the steering wheel, nothing. Disconnected the battery in the slim chance that its some sort of immobilizer issue, tried hitting the steering column a bit from every conceivable angle, wiggled the key every conceivable way, flipped it over to the other side (as the key comes out of the ignition perfectly fine), tried putting the clutch in as if I were actually starting the car, etc - all of which produced no results.

Of course, it starts pouring down rain right as this is going on, but that is neither here nor there, as I managed to half-ass tape some plastic over the windows really quickly.

SO. Ignition lock cylinder? lock cylinder switch? Immobilizer problem (seems unlikely, as the key is physically refusing to turn any further) Key? (also unlikely, because the key looks fine, and obviously has no problem locking/unlocking the glovebox).

The local dealership is closed at the moment, but I'd rather not have to deal with them anyways - college budget means I'd rather figure out the problem, order the part, and replace it myself if possible, rather than pay a towing bill and labor charges.

The car is an 03 with 70,000 miles - seems low for an issue like this, but shit happens I suppose. Still seems odd that the car would happily crank up, and then after a 5 minute drive and turning the car off, the key won't even turn.

 

Methinks you need to pay this month's car payment and then they'll unlock it.



Actually I have no clue what the issue is if wiggling the steering wheel doesn't do it.

Wait, did you just wiggle it or did you pull it far enough and hold it to release the pressure on the steering wheel lock?

Sometimes you can pull the wheel enough to release the pressure and a key will work again. Or at least that's what's happened to me in my trucks.

 

Haha. Believe me, its not the steering wheel - I've owned the car for over a year, and the steering wheel lock has engaged plenty of times- I've never had any problem getting the lock to release after giving the wheel a good couple of tugs. But just to be sure, I really made sure I gave the steering wheel plenty of pressure and a few good pulls in both directions. Sadly, that is not the problem.

 

Are you in the correct car? One of my friends went to her Honda a few years ago and couldn't work out why the ignition key wouldn't work. While she was trying to start the car another woman came up and asked here what she was doing in HER car.

Turned out they both had near identical Honda civics and for some weird reason the key opened the door of the wrong Honda but wouldn't work in the ignition.

Worth double checking, especially if you have just had a few drinks.

 

lol... Odd suggestion, but yes, I'm definitely in the same car. My car is pretty distinctly modified, but beyond that, I didn't even get out of the car between parking, turning the ignition off and then trying to turn the car on again, so I think it's pretty safe to say that's not the problem.

 

Oh, and before anyone asks, I only have one key.

 

Is the key all the way in?

 

...yes. The key slides right into the ignition as it normally does, no problem. For kicks, I tried applying light pressure to the key, as if to "force it in" more, even though it seems perfectly flush and in the same position that it always is. Didn't work.

 

Took the steering column cover off. Nothing looks awry. All connectors are intact, and there is no visible damage. Tried tapping on different parts of the cylinder lightly with a framing hammer, no change. When sliding the key into the ignition, i can hear the pins setting, I assume successfully. I made a simple video on my phone showing the problem. Might not be much help, but it's something.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFRFcd-8wv0 [/media]&sns=em

 

Do you have a second key for the car?
Does it work?