Ignition lock cyl hanging up..key not turning..

Twice today the key wouldn't turn to start the car. It was as if I had the wrong key or something.

How hard is the lock cyl to replace? Does it require removing the steering wheel?

I sprayed some oil into the lock and it's worked since. It wasn't because of the wheel being locked either. Thats happened before, where you have to twist the wheel a bit and the key turns. as a matter of fact... the wheel wouldn't even lock until it twisted it alot. Maybe related to the ignition lock problem? I have a new key I'm going to try tomorrow. Maybe my old key is wearing out?

was the wheel locked? might be an ignition safety switch?

+1 for the ignition safety switch, wheel was not locked, learn to read rabbit :D

reading is overrated... he didnt say if locking the wheel freed the key, or if he forced the key out without the wheel locking.. And that was to get the key out. I was asking if the wheel is locked when it wont turn to start.

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Originally Posted by DailyDriverMark

Twice today the key wouldn't turn to start the car. It was as if I had the wrong key or something. How hard is the lock cyl to replace? Does it require removing the steering wheel? I sprayed some oil into the lock and it's worked since. It wasn't because of the wheel being locked either. Thats happened before, where you have to twist the wheel a bit and the key turns. as a matter of fact... the wheel wouldn't even lock until it twisted it alot. Maybe related to the ignition lock problem? I have a new key I'm going to try tomorrow. Maybe my old key is wearing out?

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Yes, keys do wear out and may not work properly after they are worn. I tend to keep my cars on the road for decades and have worn out many keys over the years. When my Aveo was new I immediately had a few spare keys made from the brand new keys that came with the car. The key blanks are hard to come by (virtually no one has them) and the the keys themselves are tricky to cut properly. Several that I had made didn't work at all, and it took numerous tries for the key maker to cut them correctly. If you are making a new key from an old, worn key it will be even more difficult because with the original key being worn it is no longer as accurate a pattern as when it was new. What did you spray into the lock? I hope it wasn't WD-40. If you must lubricate a lock, use only graphited lock fluid.

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Originally Posted by petrified.rabbit

reading is overrated... he didnt say if locking the wheel freed the key, or if he forced the key out without the wheel locking.. And that was to get the key out. I was asking if the wheel is locked when it wont turn to start.

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I thought you meant when the wheel locks when the key is out, and you have to wiggle it to get it to turn over again. :o

Mine used to do that all the time! I used to take the key back out and flip it over to the other side then it would work. My wifes 07 hatchback was fine but then again her car had half the mileage mine had.

Actually it was electrical contact spray. Did the trick though...locks been back to normal since.

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Originally Posted by NYChevoo

Mine used to do that all the time! I used to take the key back out and flip it over to the other side then it would work. My wifes 07 hatchback was fine but then again her car had half the mileage mine had.

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I do this as well.

Mine did something along these lines, except it wouldn't allow the key to fully turn to the off position to remove the key. It was a sensor that was shot in the shifter area. I had to leave my key in the ignition overnight....that was stressful

(steeltown_aveoman) Do you remember what the sensor was called? Mine just started doing the same thing!