Ignition won't turn
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: KY
Ignition won't turn
I searched and the common answer is "steering wheel is locked" that isn't the case with mine.
Put the key in and the wheel telescopes, but the ignition won't turn.
Tried the spare key (both factory) and nada.
A few weeks back the battery went flat after not having driven it for a week, charged it and drove it since, no problems.
Temperature dropped, but not below freezing.
The only other solution I have found was to "reset the security system". How do I do that?
Any other thoughts on what I need to do? Perfect timing given the travel to visit family next week
Put the key in and the wheel telescopes, but the ignition won't turn.
Tried the spare key (both factory) and nada.
A few weeks back the battery went flat after not having driven it for a week, charged it and drove it since, no problems.
Temperature dropped, but not below freezing.
The only other solution I have found was to "reset the security system". How do I do that?
Any other thoughts on what I need to do? Perfect timing given the travel to visit family next week
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: KY
Yeah, do simple fixes like that ever work for anyone or am I just lucky
I did the rain dance where I unlock it with the fob twice, then unlock the door cylinder twice, tossed some bones on the ground and prayed to the Allfather, nothing.
Unhooked the battery, sang The Stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas and hooked it back up. Nada.
Whacked the key fob with a BFH, zilch.
Held the door lock cylinder in the unlock position for a a few seconds until the windows rolled down and I crapped a Miata wondering how I was going to get them back up, until I realized the reverse of disassembly was how to reassemble
I put the battery on a trickle charge to top it off..... just to see if that works, but I reference my earlier admission regarding my luck with "simple fixes like that".
So I think I'm boned and will have to have it towed to a mechanic, but that leads me to another question: How can I shift into neutral in order to have it flat bedded to the shop? Anyone know the answer to this riddle (or my first riddle to be honest, that'd be great as well ).
I did the rain dance where I unlock it with the fob twice, then unlock the door cylinder twice, tossed some bones on the ground and prayed to the Allfather, nothing.
Unhooked the battery, sang The Stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas and hooked it back up. Nada.
Whacked the key fob with a BFH, zilch.
Held the door lock cylinder in the unlock position for a a few seconds until the windows rolled down and I crapped a Miata wondering how I was going to get them back up, until I realized the reverse of disassembly was how to reassemble
I put the battery on a trickle charge to top it off..... just to see if that works, but I reference my earlier admission regarding my luck with "simple fixes like that".
So I think I'm boned and will have to have it towed to a mechanic, but that leads me to another question: How can I shift into neutral in order to have it flat bedded to the shop? Anyone know the answer to this riddle (or my first riddle to be honest, that'd be great as well
).
Intermediate
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 332
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Have you tried putting the key in the ignition, and lightly tap around the ignition with a punch and hammer, or a screwdriver and hammer? Sometimes this process loosens a stuck wafer in the ignition switch.
My wife’s 08 had this same issue and that was the fix in a pinch. If you are able to get the key to turn, and are handy, I would strongly suggest that you remove the ignition cylinder and have a locksmith rebuild it. It only cost me $65 to do it this way. If you can’t get the key to budge, it will be much more expensive to fix, as it will be much more difficult to remove the lock cylinder.
My wife’s 08 had this same issue and that was the fix in a pinch. If you are able to get the key to turn, and are handy, I would strongly suggest that you remove the ignition cylinder and have a locksmith rebuild it. It only cost me $65 to do it this way. If you can’t get the key to budge, it will be much more expensive to fix, as it will be much more difficult to remove the lock cylinder.
Last edited by RPH74; Nov 24, 2024 at 07:23 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,645
Likes: 813
From: NC
Something that happens with Hondas a lot is the lock cylinder wears because the owner has a lot of "stuff" on their keychain. The weight pulls down on the key and that wears the lock internals.
Hopefully this isn't the case for you, but if it is .. a new cylinder is about $300 p/n 69057-0E011 Plus the labor cost to install.
You will want to get it rekeyed to match your old key cut, so some additional money to a locksmith
(otherwise you will need to keep your old key just for the door and glovebox, and use the new key that comes with the lock for the ignition)
Chip H.
Hopefully this isn't the case for you, but if it is .. a new cylinder is about $300 p/n 69057-0E011 Plus the labor cost to install.
You will want to get it rekeyed to match your old key cut, so some additional money to a locksmith
(otherwise you will need to keep your old key just for the door and glovebox, and use the new key that comes with the lock for the ignition)
Chip H.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 49
Likes: 1
From: KY
OK, so maybe problem solved,
Remember when I said;
And then I said
Well the charger had been on it for maybe an hour when wifey, had to turn the key for herself. And it wasn't locked for her. I unhooked the charger and told her to start it click click click Dead battery.
So I think maybe the dying batter did something weird to the alarm system (I assume the alarm system can 'lock' the ignition), is this thinking correct?
After a full charge I went and started it right up. Drove it to the auto parts store and installed a new battery. The one in the car was five years old and had corrosion all over the terminals.
So since the lock up and charge the ignition has been turned a dozen times with no sticking, noise, or needed additional effort.
All seems ok........ so if anyone can confirm that the security system can lock the ignition that is what I'm going to chalk this up to, if not I assume I'll be living with a potential lockbomb
Thank all!
Remember when I said;
Well the charger had been on it for maybe an hour when wifey, had to turn the key for herself. And it wasn't locked for her. I unhooked the charger and told her to start it click click click Dead battery.
So I think maybe the dying batter did something weird to the alarm system (I assume the alarm system can 'lock' the ignition), is this thinking correct?
After a full charge I went and started it right up. Drove it to the auto parts store and installed a new battery. The one in the car was five years old and had corrosion all over the terminals.
So since the lock up and charge the ignition has been turned a dozen times with no sticking, noise, or needed additional effort.
All seems ok........ so if anyone can confirm that the security system can lock the ignition that is what I'm going to chalk this up to, if not I assume I'll be living with a potential lockbomb
Thank all!
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: GA
Hold on…this is a little wordy. Had the same issue around Labor Day this year. It had stuck a few times before but some wiggling got it right and all good for various amounts of time. Ambient temperature seemed to be the determining factor most times.
i found a video where a guy had to pop out the small cover to allow the transmission selector to be pulled into neutral, so he did that and moved the shifter from P to N back to P. Inserted the key and tapped on the rear of the key with what I would say was medium force with a small hammer(I used a flashlight I had). After doing that, it turned. I didn’t turn the vehicle off all the way home and took it straight to my mechanic. $850 later for his and a locksmiths labor, and I still have my original keys, a new ignition and peace of mind.
i found a video where a guy had to pop out the small cover to allow the transmission selector to be pulled into neutral, so he did that and moved the shifter from P to N back to P. Inserted the key and tapped on the rear of the key with what I would say was medium force with a small hammer(I used a flashlight I had). After doing that, it turned. I didn’t turn the vehicle off all the way home and took it straight to my mechanic. $850 later for his and a locksmiths labor, and I still have my original keys, a new ignition and peace of mind.
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 332
Likes: 58
From: Missouri
Hold on…this is a little wordy. Had the same issue around Labor Day this year. It had stuck a few times before but some wiggling got it right and all good for various amounts of time. Ambient temperature seemed to be the determining factor most times.
i found a video where a guy had to pop out the small cover to allow the transmission selector to be pulled into neutral, so he did that and moved the shifter from P to N back to P. Inserted the key and tapped on the rear of the key with what I would say was medium force with a small hammer(I used a flashlight I had). After doing that, it turned. I didn’t turn the vehicle off all the way home and took it straight to my mechanic. $850 later for his and a locksmiths labor, and I still have my original keys, a new ignition and peace of mind.
i found a video where a guy had to pop out the small cover to allow the transmission selector to be pulled into neutral, so he did that and moved the shifter from P to N back to P. Inserted the key and tapped on the rear of the key with what I would say was medium force with a small hammer(I used a flashlight I had). After doing that, it turned. I didn’t turn the vehicle off all the way home and took it straight to my mechanic. $850 later for his and a locksmiths labor, and I still have my original keys, a new ignition and peace of mind.
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