Just replaced the stereo with one I bought from ebay and followed some "how to" instructions here but now I cant position the ignition key to off so I could remove it... its stuck on ACC. I had to turn the ignition to on in order to pull back the shift lever and remove the center console but now the key is stuck in the ignition.

Next time Im just going to go with an aftermarket stereo setup... no more fooling around with the SC. Too many tricks.

 

Do you have an automatic? Make sure you're in park... otherwise you wont be able to remove your key.

 

Try to turn the wheel all the way one way, with the key still in the same position, dont turn the car on. I have had it "stuck" in there before, but its actually a wierd thing that was prebuilt specially to do that. Try turning the wheel a little and see if the key will come out then.

 

make sure your shifter is in the PARK position...if it isnt fully engaged then you wont be able to take your key out.

 

make sure its in park, wiggle the wheel a lot. it has nothing to do with the stereo.

 

Its in Park and I also tried to jiggle the steering wheel... Im going to try the "turn the wheel all the way" suggestion.

Thanks for the quick responses.....

By the way, the EBAY replacement stereo didnt work UGH! What next. Im going to the driving range and bang some ***** to release the anger

 

Try this. I believe this is what i did to release the key. Turn the car on. Turn the wheel all the way to the left. Turn the car off. While holding the key with your right hand try turning the wheel even more to the left with your left hand, as you do this, the mechanism should release the key.

 

I've heard this one before... on a camry though... Ok try THIS one. Pop the hood, disconnect the negative (or positive it doesn't matter) from the battery, keep it like that. Then go back and turn the key, and take it out. It SHOULD work. Then you can reconnect the battery. If this doesn't work then I don't know.

 

Search for key stuck in the forum. I have the same problem with my LS400. I think you need to push back the plastic in the gear shift. Look at this thread:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=key+stuck

Hope this help.

 

BINGO... this one worked. Thanks again for the responses.

 

Glad one of those things worked for ya. We learn something new every day

 

YES! i knew it would work!

Ok, maybe now, the only problem you will have is that you might need to keep taking the battery off/on for now in order to take the key out because it might keep getting stuck again. That's how it was for my cousin's camry.

Oh and try taprecycling.net for the radio. They might have one they might not. It might cost more than the one on Ebay, but I'm sure it's guaranteed to work. And I live like only 30 miles from the place and bought a lot of stuff there before so I know that taprecycling can be trusted.

 

Youre right... Once I reconnected the battery, it went back to the same "key stuck" mode. What did your cousin do to correct the problem?

 

Well, my cousin couldn't fix the problem. The key still gets stuck, so he always has to remove the battery everytime he used the car. And now for the most annoying part. You will now have to keep disconnecting the battery everytime you shut off the car. Sorry, it did not fully solve the problem.

 

Looks like Im Taking a trip to Lexus.... UGH! It seems like everytime I go there I get banged for a grand or two.