Q: Ignition cylinder locked up.

asked by on January 12, 2016

The ignition cylinder on my vehicle is locked up.

Try all available keys you have and turn the steering wheel towards the center to ensure the steering wheel lock is not binding and preventing the key from being turned. If keys are excessively worn you may want to get a fresh key cut by code from the dealer to try. Generally in this case, however, either the lock cylinder itself or the ignition lock cylinder housing on the steering column is worn/damaged if neither of the above measures allow the key to be turned. Enlist the help of a mechanic like one from Your Mechanic, to remove the ignition lock cylinder from the housing and inspect the components to determine the faulty component and assist in the final repair.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

What do I do if water gets on my car switches?
Most of the time, when water is spilled on the inside of our cars, it is not a terrible situation. If the water gets onto the carpet, or onto the fabric of the seats, we will usually either soak it...
AC not blowing cold air in 2003 Toyota Matrix
If the AC light is flashing and the air is coming out warm the problem might be a faulty AC compressor clutch relay. There is a technical service bulletin published by Toyota that has an updated relay part number to...
May need new alternator
You may have a bad alternator, but I get a lot of customers who think that the alternator is bad, when the problem is actually with the battery or its terminals. I recommend that you have a mechanic, like the...
After oil change, car won't accelerate
Hello! From the pictures I've seen it seems like the drain plugs for the engine oil and the transmission fluid could be mixed up if not careful. Make sure the right fluid was changed by checking the level of the...
The bolt that holds the plate for the power steering return lines, what size is it? Is it a torx? Is it a twelve point?
The bolt size that you need is 10 mm and the treads of 20 metric with a torque of 71 inch pounds. The best thing to do is take a thread gauge tool and check to see if the treads...
I have a dodge ram 1500 4.7- 2013 was changing spark plugs on top side with a 5mm socket socket is stuck help?
Hi there. Although what you are listing above is not necessarily a service we offer, it is possible to have one of our mobile mechanics come to your location to help you with this issue. To start, I would recommend...
No power under full throttle
The cause of loss of power is identified in YourMechanic's engine loss of power diagnostic (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/loss-of-power-inspection). To give you an initial idea of the possible causes that would be considered, a partial list would include oxygen sensors, fuel pump and/or...
Vibrates with acceleration just spent 900 on shocks struts suspension repair & 300 brand new tires
Hi Cat. Thanks for contacting us today. I'm sorry to read about these constant problems you're experiencing with the Toyota Corolla. In most cases, a vibration like you're describing is caused by a steering or suspension component failure, or a...
I'm putting in a police interceptor motor from a Impala to a 2005 Monte Carlo but it has fly by wire
Prior to doing this work, you should confirm that the "new" vehicle configuration is certifiable insofar as Federal emissions law, that is if you intend to register the vehicle. Please see the relevant Federal EPA Engine Swap Guidance Document (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/engswitch_0.pdf)....

Related articles

How Does a Starter Motor Work?
When you turn the key in your car’s ignition, the engine turns over and then cranks. However, getting it to crank...
What Does a Spark Plug Do?
Your Your ignition system is pretty complex, and there are a number of important components that must work with one another to crank the engine and then keep it running. Your spark plugs are among the most important of these,...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If Your Kid's On the Soccer Team
If If you are a soccer mom (or dad), you know that you need a lot of space to transport your budding World Cup contenders, along with their gear. From time to time, you can also expect to be bringing...