Key won't rotate in steering wheel column, what to do?

[mpv314]

I've had a semi problematic female receiver to where my key goes on my steering column. Sometimes it has gotten stuck and wouldn't rotate and I needed to muscle it to rotate and even turn electricity on. Today, after my car was sitting in the sun at the train station in this 98° heat and I guess the metal swelled up, it won't rotate on me at all. I got it once so I could get home but now it won't start again. What would I do? How do I fix this and prevent it from happening again?

[ryanhmusic]

I've had a semi problematic female receiver to where my key goes on my steering column. Sometimes it has gotten stuck and wouldn't rotate and I needed to muscle it to rotate and even turn electricity on. Today, after my car was sitting in the sun at the train station in this 98° heat and I guess the metal swelled up, it won't rotate on me at all. I got it once so I could get home but now it won't start again. What would I do? How do I fix this and prevent it from happening again?

If I were you, I'd replace the ignition barrel, then tear my old one down, lube it up and keep it as a spare in case there happens to be some other issue.

No chance you're experiencing the ignition / steering lock? If you pull on the steering wheel a little while you try and turn the key, does that let you start it right up?

[ericw.]

I've had a semi problematic female receiver to where my key goes on my steering column. Sometimes it has gotten stuck and wouldn't rotate and I needed to muscle it to rotate and even turn electricity on. Today, after my car was sitting in the sun at the train station in this 98° heat and I guess the metal swelled up, it won't rotate on me at all. I got it once so I could get home but now it won't start again. What would I do? How do I fix this and prevent it from happening again?


If I were you, I'd replace the ignition barrel, then tear my old one down, lube it up and keep it as a spare in case there happens to be some other issue.

No chance you're experiencing the ignition / steering lock? If you pull on the steering wheel a little while you try and turn the key, does that let you start it right up?

like Ryan said, it probably just needs a little foreplay or maybe some lube. ;)

[DaveyDave424]

When I had that issue a while back, I believe the shop said they fixed it by replacing the ignition tumbler