sapphire1616 Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Hi Guys, me again. Yesterday, when I came to start the car I put the key in the ignition and it would not turn to allow it to start. I wiggled it gently so as not to risk breaking it and jiggled the auto lever to see if that would help and after about 5 minutes of locking the car and unclocking it and jiggling the key and gear lever it eventually allowed me to turn it to start. This happened once before, about 18 months ago. Been fine since, until yesterday. Any help would be appreciated just in case it is a problem that needs sorting before it becomes jammed permantly. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Obvious question - steering wheel? Could be the steering lock, try pulling the wheel in one direction or another to release the stress on the lock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapphire1616 Posted October 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Hi, Yep, tried that. I was getting a 'bit sweaty' at that point and worried that may be stuck there for a good while! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 I'm not surprised! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 And the gear lever. Maybe the cables need re-adjusting as it needs to be in Park to allow the key to be removed. Any movement there and the key is locked in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Good point, I once spent ages panicking in an auto BMW because I couldn't get the key out. Turned out I'd coasted to a stop in D and just killed the ignition, hadn't put it in P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapphire1616 Posted October 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Thanks. Is it a diy job to adjust the cables? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 Not sure. You local indy will be able to give you a better idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimS8 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 This may be completely unrelated, but a while back I had an intermittent problem with my 2001 S8 where I couldn't put the gear lever into reverse. It turned out to be caused by water having got into the the big black plastic box containing the various control units (just forward of the windscreen on the passenger) side and caused one of the connectors to corrode and disintegrate. I wonder if one of the units in there controls the mechanism which stops the key being removed and whether you might have a similar problem. Apologies if this is a red herring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 You need to check your drain plugs in the bulkhead. They fill up with leaves and gunk and it doesn't allow the water to drain out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QBee Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 I found that a duff battery would lock the key in the ignition and not release it. Charged the battery and got my key back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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