Are you in a panic situation where you inserted your car key into the ignition, turned the key, and realized it wouldn’t turn or come out?
It can be frightening to be in such a situation because there’s always a fear of breaking the ignition key, which can become a headache and may also cost much more than expected to repair.
Although this is indeed a problem, it’s not very typical, and some factors make it normal for the key to get stuck and not come out as a built-in security measure in your car by the manufacturer. In any case, it’s best not to move the key and force it to turn or even come out because you might break it inside, causing you additional damage. Even if you get the key out in one piece by forcing it, you may have damaged the ignition lock mechanism while attempting to remove the key.
Before panicking and calling for help, there are a few things you can check to ensure that these are not the factors keeping your key inside and not allowing you to remove or turn it.
Key Stuck in Ignition Causes
1. The Gear Lever Is Not in Park Position
Ignition Lock In automatic transmission cars, manufacturers have intentionally included in the vehicle that if the vehicle’s transmission is not in the park position, the ignition mechanism locks the key in place and does not allow the driver to remove it. This function ensures that the driver does not accidentally leave their car running, in neutral, or in reverse and walk away. Since gears are only engaged when the vehicle is running, in an automatic transmission, the car can move freely if the transmission is left in drive or even in reverse, with the handbrake loosened. This also ensures that the driver does not accidentally remove the key if the vehicle is in park but the engine is running.
2. Your Key Is Bent
This is a problem with the key. It often happens that with frequent insertion and removal of the ignition key, the key tends to bend, but always slightly. If you are using a duplicate key, it might make the key more flexible and quicker to bend because the quality of duplicate keys is not the same as the original key. If this is the case, you should carefully remove the key without shaking it too hard so that it doesn’t break inside. Once the key is out, it’s best to discard the bent key as it could get stuck again in the future and you might not be lucky enough to remove it in one piece.
3. Your Key Is Rusty
Rust on the key will make the surface that goes inside the ignition rough, which will block it; if your key shows signs of rust, have it cleaned. It is not usual for original car keys to rust as they are made of stainless steel. If your duplicate key is rusty, discard it and use a new key.
4. Your Steering Wheel Is Locked
Built as a security device to prevent theft, car manufacturers design the steering assembly such that when the steering wheel turns without the engine running or the key is in the ignition without being turned, the steering wheel locks after a bit of rotation, preventing theft because, without the key, the steering will remain locked. The ignition has several stages that are accessible by turning the key to different levels. If the key is inserted and turned one stage, the steering column is unlocked. But if the key is inserted but not turned at all, the steering column will lock in the same way as if the key were not in place. A key inside that is not turned is no different when there is no key in the ignition. So make sure your steering wheel is not locked when you remove the key.
5. Your Car’s Battery Is Dead
This is something that only happens in some cars; especially in newer cars. This is also presented as a security feature in cars where the key locks if the battery does not provide the necessary power to the car’s computer. Since most new cars are almost all computer-controlled, the car’s computer locks the key in place if the system stops being powered by the battery. In such a case, you can check your battery’s condition by turning on the headlights or the car’s stereo. If the lights or radio do not turn on, your battery is dead, which is why you cannot remove the key. Do not force the key and wait for someone to help you jump-start the car or have your battery replaced.
6. Your Ignition Mechanism Is Faulty
If all the above issues are resolved but you still cannot remove the key, there is likely a problem with your car’s ignition system. In such a case, you can’t do much and will need to call a professional to open the ignition assembly and extract the key. Do not try to force the key as it is always advised not to do so to avoid further damage to the ignition assembly.
Sometimes, even if your car is in park, the key doesn’t seem to want to come out. In this case, before trying other ways to remove the key, run your gear lever through the other gears and back to the park position. Sometimes, the key’s position is blocked, which will free it in case of obstruction. If you still cannot remove the key after addressing all potential causes, it is best to let a professional do the job for you.
Things to Do When Your Key Is Stuck in the Ignition Lock
Key stuck in the ignition There are several different things you can try in a situation where your key is stuck in the ignition. However, several of them require tools, and in many situations, your best bet is to let a mechanic take a look at it instead of breaking the ignition key, which will most likely lead to even more expensive repair costs.
1. Make Sure Your Car’s Battery Is Charged
A common issue when your key is stuck in the ignition and when you cannot start the car is that the car’s battery is dead or has low voltage. Charge your car’s battery for a while with a car battery charger to see if it’s a low voltage problem. Low voltage can prevent the ignition lock from releasing the key.
2. Make Sure the Gear Lever Is in Park Position
If you have an automatic car, you will likely need to have your gear lever in the park position to remove the key from the ignition. This could also be due to a faulty gear lever switch, where the car thinks the gear lever is in a different position than it actually is.
3. Check the Safety Switch (American and Japanese Cars)
Many American and Japanese cars have an additional locking switch inside the ignition where you need to press the key with a button to turn it further to remove the key. Check your car’s manual to ensure you are doing it correctly.
4. Spray Lubricant into the Lock
Often, if the key or ignition lock is worn, it might be enough to spray some oil inside the ignition lock. This can be quite tricky because the key blocks the path, but with a spray can with a tube, it’s possible.
5. Read the Fault Codes
If you have an OBD2 scanner at home, you can try reading the fault codes from all the different control units to check for any issues related to the gear lever or any fuse that might be causing this problem. You often need a more advanced diagnostic scanner to read fault codes from the immobilizer and ignition switch.
6. Call a Mechanic Workshop
If you have tried everything above, you don’t have many other choices than to call your local mechanic workshop and let them take a look at it. In many cases, it’s the ignition lock that is failing and it needs to be replaced. In some cases, the immobilizer is built into the ignition switch and you need to reprogram it after a replacement.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have all the information you need to solve this problem in a panic situation. If you would like us to add something to this article or have other questions about it, you are welcome to leave a comment below, and we will try to answer your questions as quickly as possible.