Automotive Forums

After many searches to find the problem, I came across this site.  What a blessing.  We have a 2000 Grand Caravan and it has had some trouble with the key turning lately.  Tonight, it wouldn't budge.  No amount of jiggling, wiggling, WD-40, unhooking battery cables would make the key turn.  Then, I found out about the rubber mallet.  Worked like a charm.  Went to Lowe's this evening and bought one just for the van.  Not ideal, but at least it works.  Thanks so much for the wonderful forum to post and learn.

Sonja  

Had the same thing happen to me on Sunday - key would not turn in the ignition.

This had happened about 6 mohts ago and a spray of silicon fixed it - albeit temporarily.

So, after the reading the forum, I took the steering column parts off to get to the cylinder. I managed to get the lock cylinder out and saw that the key worked fine in the cylinder but when the cylinder was put back in the "barrel" the cylinder would not turn. I lubricated the barrel with some white lithium grease - and showed my wife the mallet trick.

In any event - I don't think the problem is the cylinder or the key.
I hope the lithium grease will resolve that issue.  

I have seen the same problem & found out through a locksmith that pocket lint can cause this problem. Apparently the tolerances for the tumblers are very tight and a build up of lint over time causes the cylinder to lock up. If you continue to have problems I would suggest removing the key cylinder & taking it to a locksmith to be disassembled and cleaned.  

That mallet trick is so crazy, and it works! I got stuck in heavy rain down here in Ocala, Florida. I was about 45 minutes away from the real heavy destruction. But I drove home during a massive amount of rain we got hit with. The next day, my ignition wouldn't turn. I thought for sure all the water I drove through killed the car. I had a tow truck coming in an hour to take it to the shop! Then I saw this website and the mallet trick. I said, what the heck, I'll try it. And sure enough, it worked. I have a 98 Dodge Neon. Might be time for a new car soon if this is what I have to do! Thanks to everyone for posting this! It saved me some money!  

I just wanted to add my story.  2001 Dodge Caravan, 120,000 miles.  Thought it might be related to the -6 temp outside, even though it is garage kept.  Two taps with the handle from a small hammer, and it's as good as new.

Thanks to all.  

Just an update.  We are the military family living overseas.  We have been using the trusty mallet now for almost 3 months. As time went on and the weather got colder it was requiring  a little more tapping.  We were afraid we would bust the key.  A friend bought the part at a dealership in the states and  fed exed it to us. The dealership even keyed in to our VIN all for $98.00!  A local garage put it in for another $100!  THanks to all on the board for suggestions and for letting me know what part to replace!I know have peace of mind..but I still keep the mallet in the car..just in case I (or another Chrysler owner) might need it some day!  

I joined the rubber mallet club last night.  THanks to all who posted the solution.  Does anyone know if the mallet trick will work indefinitely or should I be replacing the parts?  

This place is the best on the NET, I have been here many times and quess what, I always found the answer to my auto problems and you guys did it AGAIN today, I am now a new member in th RUBBER MALLET CLUB, worked the first time I tried it.....

You Guys Are The BEST !!!!!!!

'99 Neon  

Wow, what a great forum, 2000 Chrysler Town and Country owner here. I cannot even begin to start listing the problems we have had with this vehicle.

But the most recent was the key wont turn scenario. Lets see what i tried and the results:

WD-40:  NOPE

Turn Steering Wheel Violently:   NOPE

Tap key with mallet:   YES!!!

Wow, I to am a proud member of the rubber mallet club! I am starting a new club, Vow to never buy Chrysler again.

I wonder if that domain name is available?

Thanks Everyone.  

It worked!!!!
Add another vote for the tap the end of the key with a Mallet ( well I actually used a screwdriver handle) ..it just got my wife's 1999 Sebring started.
I wish I had found this before I took apart all the plastic panels off the dash, the plastic covers from the steering column, the housing from the assy behind the lock cylinder that activates the shift lock cable, the floor shifter mechanism ( to see if that cable was jammed) and a few other things. I only found this while looking for some info on taking out the cylinder itself, that was next, and now I don't even have to take it out any more. I gave it a shot of lube and put it all back together, it seems to be working fine now.
Hopefully this won't come back too often, but rest assured there will always be a screwdriver in the car and the wife and teenagers will be properly briefed on its use if this problem crops up again.  

I work for (a)telco in Canada and we use the caravans as our fleet vehicles for residential repairs. Mines a 2000 Caravan.

Today I had the very same problem and while, freezing, waiting for a tow decided to check all fuses, relays, lamp operation, and disconnect the battery. No dice.  As I was getting really cold, and after playing with the ignition/wiggling etc etc endlessly, I removed the key and started knocking the outer cylender plate with my can wrench(a socket wrench or anything nice and solid should do it).  I was then able to put the key in, turn it backwards, not forwards, then forward to start the truck.

When I parked it at my next job I needed to repeat the process. There is  no rubber mallet, broken keys, oil,or column stripping required for this  guys.

This is the second caravan in our fleet I've seen do this. Wiggling for like 5 minutes would normally work on that one though. I believe it was a 99, possibly 98.

Hope it works for you.  Would really like to know what a reliable fix would be.  

What a blesing this site Is!!!!!!  Just Bought a 1998 Dodge Caravan Last Week. Rides xcellent, Then today Key jut Wouldn't Turn. I new It had to Be something Where The cylinders in The Lock were not Engaging, so I Tried wiggling and jiggling, but to no Avail. Then i came Across This site, took a Hammer, tapped it gently five times and Eureka! Turned Right Over!!!!!Thanks to This Site My Car salesman Will Get to Live!!!!(Ha!Ha!Ha!)  

my troubles with the ignition began about one month ago. At first, it locked up 1 in 10 times then over the course of a month it became more frequent.  I put some pb blaster in and some antiseize and it helped for about five days.  Then I put my car in park and have not been able to get the key to turn no matter what I do.  I've turned the steering wheel, taken off the cover plate below messed with the cylinder from the bottom, tilted the steering wheel.  Nothing works.  I'm going to try the rubber mallet trick now and hopefully I can get back to florida.  According to this site, there are alot of unhappy people over this ignition problem.  Dodge should recall all their minivans that have this recurring problem.  Mine is a 1998, Dodge grand caravan se.  I can tell you I'll buy either a windstar or a venture next time. I like minivans but not this problem.  It's left me stranded several times.  Wish me luck with the "Rubber Mallet trick"  

Thank you Thank you, for the mallot trick, I have a 95 Grand Prix and lately I've been having problems with my ignition. Last night I was leaving work and my Shifter wouldn't move out of park, I had to call my dad to come help me. He finally got it out of park, when I went home and put it in park my keys wouldn't come out. My dad tried to get them out, As he tried to get them out they locked all the way it wouldn't start or nothing. So this morning I tried the mallot trick and sure enough it worked. Thanks a lot.  

technical service bulletin info:  NOT A RECALL
NUMBER: 23-23-00

GROUP: Body

DATE: JUNE 30, 2000
SUBJECT:
Ignition Key Will Not Turn And/Or Cannot Be Removed

MODELS:
1997 - 2000 (NS) Town & Country/Caravan/Voyager

OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves performing one or any combination of the following procedures; cutting a new ignition key, and/or adjusting transmission shifter cable, and/or replacing the ignition lock cylinder and/or replacing the ignition lock housing and switch assembly.

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
1. Cannot turn the ignition key when attempting to start vehicle, this condition may be intermittent.

2. Unable to remove the ignition key from the lock cylinder.


the full text basically says to cut a NEW key, not duplicate the old one and/or replcae the lock cylinder with the newly cut key cut from code

me