Please cheer me up...my key wouldnt go in ignition, had to walk 4 mi home

[jab105]

Not in a great mood, finally worked up the motivation to go distribute my resume around the whole county, I had my list of places to go, directions, everything....

I get to the first place, park, submit resume, no problem....

Then I go to get back in my car (a Saturn) and the key wouldnt go into the ignition, at all...I sat there in 90 degree heat, wearing very nice clothes trying to get the key in the car...

So, I had to walk home, FOUR MILES...called Saturn, they say there is something wrong with my ignition, not something I can afford right now...

Anyways, I have to get it towed to the dealership, and I'm pissed...

This is not what I needed on my first full day on the job hunt!!

[demnan]

1. After luck like that

things are bound to look up for you! :-)

[soleft]

2. You need a big fidora and a bullwhip

Just think that you're Indiana Jones, and it's like poison arrows are firing at you, and there's this big boulder coming at you, but you're the hero of this story and you will be adventurous and overcome all obstacles!

[jab105]

3. LOL...

And I could be, if only I'd been wearing more comfortable shoes...got big blisters!!

Is this a sign that I shouldn't be looking for a job....

My key wouldnt go into the ignition, I've never heard of anythign so weird!!

[marzipanni]

17. Sending good luck for car, & for job search!

I agree- a little lubrication often works wonders. ;)
I hope your tootsies feel better soon. Tincture of Benzoin and a little donut cut from moleskin (see footcare dept. at drug store) will help if you need to walk much while blisters are healing.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. You mean the key wouldn't turn the ignition? I had this happen on my BMW

I put a paper clip (stretched out) in the ignition and ran it back and forth and it cleaned some gunk out of the keyhole...then it worked...worth a try if you can get a lift back to your car...you may have to try it several times..be patient.

on edit: saw yor clarification..I still think the ignition is just stuck and some wd 40 and patiently trying to realign the outer side of the ignition may help..how old is the car? Might this be warrantied? Call Saturn of NA.

[jab105]

8. thanks~~!!

It seems so weird...I'm gonna try that as soon as I can get up the motivation to walk back down there...will bring the cell phone with me this time, just in case...

thanks!! for the suggestion!!

[quispquake]

11. I have the SAME PROBLEM on my Saturn!

If you keep trying, believe it or not, it will eventually turn...

I'll be honest, I just leave the key in the ignition at this point (of course I live in central Maine!!!). I've had to spend 20 minutes or more to get it to work sometimes, but once it's in there, if you don't take it out, it will continue to work...

Technology at it's best :) (At least Saturn fixed my seat last year...just decided to bend completely backwards when I stopped at a light a coupla years ago...turned out to be a recall issue)...

pp23

[BigMcLargehuge]

5. could be worse... could be raining.

Bummer to hear about your car trouble. We had the same issue with my wife's Focus. I figured the lock in the ignition was stuck as even the steering wheel was jammed. I offered it one sharp whack with the blunt end of a screwdriver and it freed up the obstruction.

Maybe this is the Karmic shift you need to get that resume looked at by the right people, and therefore, hired.

[jab105]

15. YOU JINXED ME!!!!!!! NOW IT'S RAINING!!!!!

LOL, at this point, I just have to laugh about it...

am going to wait for the rain to stop:)

[streakr]

6. Turn the Wheel

My L300 does this on occasion. Turn the wheel slightly before inserting the key.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi streakr!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bif]

7. That happened to me the day after Christmas last year.

Boy was I pissed. The van was 2 bloody years old. Should an ignition last more than 2 years? I called Chrysler and of course they said it was no longer under warranty. You'd think they'd stand behind their products? Hell no! I had to pay for the whole thing myself. Yikes. You probably didn't want to hear this. Sorry.

[VelmaD]

9. Just happened to me recently...

12 year old car though. The key would go in the ignition but wouldn't turn it. It actually acted up for several days before that...would be a little twitchy about turning and then it just stopped. The key was just too worn out to work anymore. I called a local locksmith that came out and rekeyed the ignition. I just needed a new key cut which only ran me about $95. It's more if it's the part inside the steering column that's worn out.

Anyway, you might wanta try calling a locksmith.

DV

[jab105]

10. my key wont go in at all....

its so weeird, or so I thought, but seems like a lot of you have had something similar..

Am going back down there with some WD-40 and a paperclip...wish me luck:)

[quispquake]

12. Try both directions on the key!!!

One way will work, one way won't...good luck!!!
pp23

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Those who advocated patiently forcully turning the wheel are correct as

well...sometimes you have to give it a jolt.

BEST OF LUCK!

[trof]

14. graphite might work better.

Black powder. Come in a little spout can like 3 in One oil.

[kathee]

16. My DH said

sounded like the tumbler in the ignition fell, or a clip came off of it that was holding it there.

Either way, what a bunch of A holes people were for not giving you a lift! We always stop for those stranded. I have me a pretty cool guy who cant pass a broke down vehicle without giving aid.

[Aristus]

18. This is going to sounds weird, jab105,

but, if you can (bearing in mind your blisters), try rocking the car back and forth a little, while turning the steering wheel. Then try the key in the ignition. This sort of thing used to happen all the time to me when I owned my Datsun 280-ZX. One of the best cars I've ever had, but it had this little idiosyncracy with the ignition. If that doesn't work, cross your eyes and stick out your tongue. That oughta do it.

Hope your day gets better, my friend. :-)

Your old pal, 'Ari' ;-)

[kodi]

19. i thought everyone knew how to hot wire a car

we learned it in shop class. when asked if our teacher had gone to penn state, he winked and said "No, state pen."