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Thanks!  Your remedy for a 2000 Dodge Neon worked!  Electric cleaner plus rubber hammer and screw driver handle saved many bucks! After going on a long trip, wasting gas by not shutting off the vehicle because I wasn't sure the key would turn, holiday weekend, not a good time to break down.  You deserve an Automotive.com GOLD MEDAL!!  

I own a 2006 Dodge Durango and just got a call from the wife who was stranded because the key won't turn in the ignition... Rubber mallet trick (palm of hand)worked like a charm. Saved me alot of money as she was waiting for a tow to the dealership. THANKS!!!

"Contact the Department of Transportation Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 and tell them about this problem"  

8/01/2008 3:17A. My husband was desperate, we had already tried the lock unlock crap. I read the treads about the mallet and thank God I did. Honestly, I do not even know what he used. I heard him say, this isn't a mallet, but it is going to do the job. He hit it 2 times, the ignition unlocked, the key turned, and immediately started the car. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!  

I have a Dodge Caravan 1999. Several times the ignition key was difficult to turn to start position. With some great effort and frustrating times it would eventually start. Now it won't, no matter how much I tried and turned, and turned, and tur... Luckily, I was at home when it finally failed.
I removed the key cylinder out of the column, and still the key won't turn.
Thanks for this forum.
Is there a problem with the cylinder itself?

Anyone seen this and had an answer?

Thanks.
Harry.  

Maybe there needs to be a class action suit against Chrysler. This seems to be a VERY common problem with their cars of all make, models, and years. I have a 2000 Voyager and it is doing the same thing. I am seriously not liking this crap American Car. My father hates foreign cars but the US cars seem to not last like they used to. I have resorted to the hitting the key method and I am going to have to get a new cylinder.

~Tim  

Hey Guys I got a Lil idea for you guys which should allow your key to work properly sorry spelling is horrible I have been Pist for days trying to figure out how to get my key to turn i didnt want to pay to get my car fix and pay 123490890283 ammounts of money for a simple fix.

This worked for my 1998 Dodge intrepid

requires a Star bit screw driver Thats ALL

1) Take off the Cover thats coveren your ignition
2) Pull the secondary cover off of your ignition key
3) After 1 and 2 are completed put key back in ignition
4) Wiggle key and steeringwheel look under your key on the ignition
cylinder you will see a lil butten it looks like probly half inch away from the key hole push it in and turn your key keep trying cause the ignition will come out.

5) grease it do what ever and put it back in and start your car


Email me i would love to know if it worked for you Slimjim41987@sbcglobal.net

I'm only 19  

REad the post on the last page  

I think you have a different problem, the company is alone responsible for the vehicle you can claim on the company property stating that parts are not quality which they have to be and also you should replace with a new car i suppose. I think they its manufacturing defect or the parts they have used are not quality one.
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steve
Car Auctions  

Well I just had to say thanks to everyone here and long live the rubber hammer! Had the occasional issue with my 99 dodge neon but last night when I was out getting some beer to watch the Flames game the bloody thing wouldnt turn. After spending most of my holiday sunday cursing I stumbled on this gem and yes it worked. I will be replaceing the ignition but at least I will be doing it in my own back yard and not in a parking lot with heaps of onlookers giving me funny looks and probalbly considering calling the cops!  

I have a 2001 Chrysler town and country and i was unable to turn the key in the ignition.
OMG
My kids though i was crazy last night i gooled this problem and cam up with the mallet trick i was frantically looking for my hammer with the rubber handle( tried a few other things is it something about the rubber?) and sure enough
the rubber mallet works!
my car is running after 5 days !
there a party going on in my VAN right now  

I have been having the same issue with my 2001 Durango for several months and the key tapping will work - for a while. Mine got to the point where I went from 2-3 light taps with a screwdriver handle to 5-6 hard taps and even that wouldn't always work. Today was the last straw, I almost couldn't get it to turn even after 8-10 smacks. I called a local locksmith and he knew exactly what the problem was. I got it started again and for $65 at his shop he pulled the lock cylinder out and rebuilt it using better components than the oem cylinder. Having it replaced at your dealer will only cure the problem for a while until that replacement cylinder wears out too since they have not changed the design. I grin like a damn fool every time I start it now. No more screwdrivers, paper towels or WD40 clogging my cup holders and my steering column is all back together so it doesn't look like I jacked my own car. Plus I am still using the original key. Best money I've spent in weeks.    

Ok...

I own a 1993 chevy silverado full size pick up. Last month it wast broken into and now the steering wheel is locked and ignition key won't turn. I can't shift the gears at all and am having trouble geting it towed for this reason. Have not yet tried the method of turning the wheel hard from side to side while turning the key.

Q.   Would the "wheel and ignition" being  locked prevent me from shifting gears, or is this a seperate issue all together? Any info would be of great help. 3 weeks of the bus is not the best and is getting harder now that winter is starting.

Called the mechanic and they estimated $172 for a ignition replacement which is fine but I need to get my truck there to get it fixed. No real mechanical skills under my belt so any rocky tips that any one could give would be a blessing.

E-mail is c.smahr@yahoo.com thanks every one. and sorry to hear about all this ignition key trouble and steering wheel lock ups. Maybe Car companies need to figure out a new way to put in the anti theft system without making it a pain in the rear to fix once activated.  

I have a 1998 Dodge Intrepid

Key would not turn in ignition ...I didn't know what to do my money is low so I decided to google for an answer and I am so greatful reading the other posts hoping that the rubber mallet would fix the problem, I didnt have a rubber mallet but, I had a rubber handled dish brush went to my car and hit the ignition about seven times while the key was inside of it and turned the key and my car started right up!!! Thank You  

We just had the same no-key-turn problem with a 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager that we bought from the first owner just a few months ago. After finding this thread, I took a tack hammer to the end of the key for a couple of medium taps, and this fixed the problem so we could drive the car home.

The hammer is now stashed in the drawer under the passeger seat in case this happens again. We love the van: It drives great, handles, has power (3.3 liter engine) is ergonomically one of the best-thought-out cars I've ever driven or ridden. The transmission is original and has never failed, meaning the first buyer got lucky. This is the first problem it's given us.

Thanks for the advice!  

Apparently no model year or mileage vehicle is immune.  I'd  been struggling for hours, yesterday, removing screws and covers over steering column; jiggling keys; torgueing the steering wheel; rocking the car, thinking tranny or brakes were locked up; oiling, jamming, coaxing.  Finally, it dawned on me to check the internet.  Indeed I happened upon all you folks and your similar situations. I went out this morning, did some experimental "tapping" as to number or intensity of blows, while the key was in the ignition, and somehow found the right combination to free up the key system in our 1998 Caravan.  Taking the key our sometimes reverts back to the original problem, but tapping seems to resolve the issue.  I don't like that for a long-term solution -  just rubs logic the wrong way, thinking of tiny metal particles being joggles around or shavings being introduced into the "tumblers" but I'll do more reading for help on removing/replacing the cyclinder...and maybe taking it to a locksmith for "rebuilding" or lubing.  But for now, I'm grateful to all who are posting!  How frustrating it's been to guess at what the cause was/is.