3 Reasons Why Your Key Get Stuck In The Ignition And Ways To Fix It

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you can’t detach your car key from the ignition? It can be frustrating especially when you don’t have the time to relax and deal with it.

When your car key is stuck in your ignition, it’s is good you take things easy and find out the reason why it is stuck. Aggressively turning the key back and forth or pulling, may end up putting you in more troubles; the key might get broken inside.

In order to avoid many problems other than just a stuck key, it is imperative you know the reasons why it got stuck in the ignition.

Below are the 3 reasons why you car key got stuck in your ignition and how to handle it.

1. Gear lever not in Park Position:

When your gear lever is not in Park (P) position, don’t waste your time trying to pull out your key. Car manufacturers programmed it that way. If the lever is in any position other than Park, you will not be able to get the key out of ignition.

When you can’t bring out your key from the ignition, kindly ensure that the lever is in Park position. After shifting to P, ensure it’s completely shifted to the position and not half way.

2. Faulty or damaged Key:

As simple as it might look, all those tiny edges and slight hollow lines you see on key matters a lot. Once the key gets out of being how it’s meant to, you might end up struggling with detaching your key from the ignition.

Dirt or debris stuck in the car can make the car stuck in the ignition. If you have the habit of multitasking your key, put it to check to avoid all these issues. A perfect example is opening boxes with your key.

A damaged key – crack or worn out – can cause this problem as well. Check for cracks and bends on your key. If the key is bad already, have them replaced.

Quick Steps On How To Handle A Stuck Accelerator Pedal

3. Locked Steering Wheel:

If you’re observant enough, you must have noticed this. When your steering wheel locks, it’s hard and almost impossible to pull out your key. This is due to the ignition cylinder locking at the same time as the steering wheel lock. The steering will only lock when the engine is off.

Once the steering locks, this is what to do to get your key out. You have to deactivate the steering wheel lock.

Gently jiggle the steering while and at the same time try removing the key. Also ensure the key is turned all the way counter clockwise before trying to remove it.

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