So i get in my car today to pull it out of the garage so that i can wash it (i was at virginia beach for about 9 days, so the car just sat in the garage for that time). i put in my key and try to turn it and it won't move. i've had this happen in my old grand am before, but it would turn after a little force, well this mother wouldn't. i had to get to work so i grabbed some pliers and turned the key bending it in the process it pops and finally i can turn the key and start the car. yea i know the pliers were a bad idea, but what was i supposed to do? any suggestions on what's going on and how i can turn the key without using pliers next time?

 

Have you lubed your key or the lock?

 

i've tried triflow, but i will get somebetter stuff while i'm here at work

 

You say the car sat for 9 days? Any kids that could have stuck something in the keyhole when you were not around? I have had my tib since 99 and lived close enough to the beach (OCNJ) that my car was constantly covered in salt and sand.. and have never had a problem with the keys. Not even in the winter when everything was frozen over.

 

i guess that could be possible. the guy who was taking care of our animals has a kid who may have screwed with it. i'll try shooting some air in there when i get home. do you think it would ef anything up if i sprayed some no flash (contact cleaner) in there? it's a cleaner that's safe for everything from computer motherboards to tools.
normally i can tell if anyone has been in my car. it's like a 13th sence. ninja.gif

 

Are you talking about the lock on the door, or to start the car?

 

use grafite power, the stuff in pencils. that should work smile.gif

 

the ignition

 

the ignition? Oh, I thought you were talking about the door. I know on occasion mine seems to stick.. but generally it is the wheel/Ignition lock sticking because the front wheels moved against it some.

had any problems since?

 

^^^that's exactly what I was going to suggest. I haven't had this problem in the tib yet, but on my old thunderbird, if the steering wheel was in the wrong position and it locked, you couldn't turn the key, so I had to turn the wheel back and forth a bit and try to turn the key while I did, and the wheel and key would release.