Odd ignition problem

[krook]

the weirdest thing happened to me yesterday. i went to school, parked my car as usual, turned off my car. . .then my key was stuck in my ignition! the car was off, but i just couldn't remove my key so it was stuck in the ACC position. so i just kept my key in the car the whole day at home and unplugged all my accessories. i figured i'd take it to Toyota today.

but then, i went out at night, and subconsciously grabbed my key in a hurry to meet my friend outside my car. started talking for a bit, then i said *WAIT! WTF??? i stared at my hand. and lo and behold was my key!?! now, it's okay. but i'm worried it may do it again.

anyone know what it could be? should i swap out the ignition column? i think something is wrong with the tumbler inside. def. not the key.

[Mole]

might just want to spray some wd40 in the key hole, then put the key in, pull out and clean the dirt/metal grindings...

[JoeB]

Did you try moving the steering wheel? I've had that happen and the steering wheel lock was binding it. Just move the wheel a little and voila... -JoeB

[WTF??]

hey krook... you have an AT ryte?

This happened to me loong time ago with a previous car, but the shifter wasnt all the way up into its "park" position. 2 things happened when I didnt fully put it in park:

1. I wouldnt be able to take out the key
2. If I was able to take out the key, when I tried to put the key in to start, it wouldnt start (no power).

So i'd have to nudge the shifter up and everything would be ok

pretty weird crap hey glad you got your key out! maybe you can try this if it happens again

[krook]

might just want to spray some wd40 in the key hole, then put the key in, pull out and clean the dirt/metal grindings...

my friend did that, but no luck. it was only later on the evening that the key finally gave and came out of the ignition.

Did you try moving the steering wheel? I've had that happen and the steering wheel lock was binding it. Just move the wheel a little and voila... -JoeB

i thought of that too, but i found that i could turn my steering wheel any which way b/c the key was stuck in the ACC position. i thought it was the steering wheel that was the problem, but i realized that i didn't lock my wheel that day, and the key was just stuck.

[krook]

hey krook... you have an AT ryte?

This happened to me loong time ago with a previous car, but the shifter wasnt all the way up into its "park" position. 2 things happened when I didnt fully put it in park:

1. I wouldnt be able to take out the key
2. If I was able to take out the key, when I tried to put the key in to start, it wouldnt start (no power).

So i'd have to nudge the shifter up and everything would be ok

pretty weird crap hey glad you got your key out! maybe you can try this if it happens again

sorry, i didn't see this earlier solnytez. yep, i tried that, but it didn't really work either. that's the first thing i thought of b/c i'd been messing with shift know earlier in the week. but that sucker is all the way up in the park position. *shakes head* iono man...

[krook]

GUESS WHAT GUYS


it's flippin' doing it again!?!?!!? i'm thinking of just changing out my whole ignition column out already, but i wanted to ask:

"If you already have a column equipped with the transponder-chip responder, can you get an ignition column WITHOUT it and hook that up to the car?"

I want to try this so that i won't have to get new keys programmed. *crossing fingers*