Ignition barrel doesn't turn

jonbot · 12-20-2007, 10:10 PM

I hopped in my 911 tonight to take it for a spin, and the key won't turn. I recall last night when I shut it off i felt a little bit of resistance when I turned it to the off position, but it wasn't much, and I thought that might have been because the key wasn't fully seated in the lock. I went to start it tonight, and it won't budge. I tried shaking the wheel back and forth (left to right) repeatedly while turning, but it won't budge. Something's fuched up! Anybody got any ideas?

johndglynn · johndglynn's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonbot

I hopped in my 911 tonight to take it for a spin, and the key won't turn.I tried shaking the wheel back and forth (left to right) repeatedly while turning, but it won't budge. Anybody got any ideas?

Jammed tumbler maybe. I had this when my ignition switch failed at the same time - lock jammed solid. Took the lock assembly and switch out and serviced them both. I washed the lock through with huge amounts of wd40 and lots of air, then light oiled it and give it an extra dab of oil every now and then. It has been brilliant since.

I was so delighted with the results, I did the door locks a month later

frogger · 12-21-2007, 04:12 AM

Worn key?

David E. Clark · 12-21-2007, 08:24 AM

A little help here: Ignition key will not turn! and here: Ignition key gets stuck!!!!!!! and here: STUCK -steering lock/ignition locked.

The common theme seems to be clean and lubricate the cylinder.

Merry Christmas!

jonbot · 12-21-2007, 02:46 PM

Thank you for your replies, I got the problem fixed today. I took a long thick screwdriver and placed the flat tip of it on the top of the opening where the key goes in. On the handle, I gently tapped with a hammer, ever so gently, just enough to send some vibrations along the tumblers to get any stuck ones to fall back in to place. It worked like a charm. Immediately following I shot in a quick blast of tri-flow lubricant and worked the key in and out, and turned the tumbler left and right a dozen times to get the oil flowing. Seems okay!

Thanks again for everyone's help, happy holidays!

Jon