key lock cylinder wont turn; stuck in parking lot

[demonpixel]

Here at an audio shop and the ignition key tumbler won't turn either way, forward or backward.

I'm typing this from my phone. I've got a steering wheel puller and a new lock cylinder from the oreilly around the corner, PN LC14260. Car is a 72 Firebird.

I have never done this before, could use any advice anyone has!! Thanks for any help

[JEFFTATE]

Well , it's now 2:16 pm.
You posted at 12:06 pm.
What has happened ???
Did you get it fixed ??

It's probably too late for my advice , but start by spraying some white lithium spray grease in the lock ...
See if the lubrication will free it up ..

Wiggle the steering wheel while attempting to turn the ignition lock.
Sometimes this action will free it up ..

[Machwon]

More then likely its the case of a well worn cylinder and key combo. I would just jiggle it as much as possible to try and get it to free up. If it worked before, it'll work again. Keys just don't magically stop working. Good luck, hope you got it fixed

[demonpixel]

Thanks guys. I'm finally home. It's almost 6:30pm. The actual cylinder itself would not turn no matter what we did to it. Very weird.

The shop owner (Sal from Sal's Autosport in Houston Texas) was a trooper, brought out tools and worked diligently. That's some crazy customer service!!! He had to drill out the dark curved button part on the cylinder in order to get it out.

I'm glad the cylinder from O'Reilly's was the right part - a lot of times it says it's the right part at the parts store and ends up being different.

We did try spraying WD and PB Blaster in and around the lock cylinder; NOTHING was working. It was like the position the key was in was frozen in that position.

The new cylinder works great now and I'm happy. :) Thanks again for the responses guys, I appreciate it.

[79-TA]

This happened to me when I got my Trans Am smogged this year. I had dropped off the car, so the smog guy went ahead and replaced the ignition cylinder without my permission . . . but at least it's done.

[demonpixel]

This happened to me when I got my Trans Am smogged this year. I had dropped off the car, so the smog guy went ahead and replaced the ignition cylinder without my permission . . . but at least it's done.

Did he tell you how he got it out?

[neki67]

The actual cylinder itself would not turn no matter what we did to it. Very weird.

We did try spraying WD and PB Blaster in and around the lock cylinder; NOTHING was working. It was like the position the key was in was frozen in that position.

Had the same thing happen to me with a 72 F'bird about 10 years ago. Wouldn't do anything anymore all of a sudden and was normally operating before. Luckily it was parked in front of my house so I could get to my tools. Had to drill it out.

[ErikLS2]

I had this happen to me on a early 70's Firebird. Key was stuck in the first position and wouldn't turn either way. Put a new lock cylinder in it and same thing. Well, I had my hand on the column tube below the lock cylinder and it just happened to rotate a little bit and all of a sudden the key worked fine again. Apparently there was something inside that tube, a boss or something, that was causing the metal rod that goes down to the ign. switch to bind and rotating it freed it up. Never took it apart to see what it was.

[JEFFTATE]

I had this happen to me on a early 70's Firebird. Key was stuck in the first position and wouldn't turn either way. Put a new lock cylinder in it and same thing. Well, I had my hand on the column tube below the lock cylinder and it just happened to rotate a little bit and all of a sudden the key worked fine again. Apparently there was something inside that tube, a boss or something, that was causing the metal rod that goes down to the ign. switch to bind and rotating it freed it up. Never took it apart to see what it was.

It sounds like your steering column lock rotated a little bit and locked the key and steering ..

If you look out under the hood , up next to the firewall , there is a rod that comes up from the transmission linkage.
It connects to a lever sticking out of the steering column and this rotates when you put the car in park / neutral / drive / etc,...
Anyway , the rotation of this mechanism is what locks the column in conjunction with the transmission being in park..
Over the years , these lock mechanisms get a lot of play in them ( or they get disconnected ) and they slip into lock position and you can't remove your key , etc ....

[ErikLS2]

That must have been what it was. I was just helping a single mom out and didn't even lift the hood I don't think. I just had to laugh at myself that I went to all the trouble of replacing the lock cylinder and that's all it was. Wasn't the first or the last time something like that has happened. I think there's a thread around here for those stories.......

[sniper]

The shop owner (Sal from Sal's Autosport in Houston Texas) was a trooper, brought out tools and worked diligently. That's some crazy customer service!!! He had to drill out the dark curved button part on the cylinder in order to get it out.

Glad you got it fixed. But a drill? Isn't there usually a small indent that you have to push in, in order for the cylinder to come out? Even then the key might have had to be in a position other than off to push the detent.

[Rick K]

just came in from neighbors house, his was doing the same but a chrysler minivan. Gave a couple light taps on the end of the key while in the ignition with a small mallet and it now turns.

[demonpixel]

Thanks for all the info guys. Honestly, we tried a lot of what you stated, and when we finally got the cylinder out, we put the key in it, and it would NOT turn, even with the cylinder completely out of the car, in my left hand, while i was trying to turn it with the key in my right hand. The new key cylinder turned without any issues at all, very smooth.

[demonpixel]

Glad you got it fixed. But a drill? Isn't there usually a small indent that you have to push in, in order for the cylinder to come out? Even then the key might have had to be in a position other than off to push the detent.

In my 72 GM/Pontiac Service Manual it says the key needs to be in the OFF position before you can remove the lock cylinder. Our problem was you couldn't turn the key to the off position. You couldn't turn the key no matter what.