Can't turn starter key

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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 02:13 AM
  #1  
TSXGir1's Avatar
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Can't turn starter key

Hi, I have a 2006 TSX and every once in awhile when I go to start the car, the key won't turn! It acts like I have the wrong key. Has anyone had this happen? After awhile of sitting there, and constantly trying, eventually it will turn. But you really have to turn it hard. This happens whether it is cold or hot outside, and if the car has been on for awhile or been off all night.

Thanks!
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 03:10 AM
  #2  
TSX420J's Avatar
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Originally Posted by TSXGir1
Hi, I have a 2006 TSX and every once in awhile when I go to start the car, the key won't turn! It acts like I have the wrong key. Has anyone had this happen? After awhile of sitting there, and constantly trying, eventually it will turn. But you really have to turn it hard. This happens whether it is cold or hot outside, and if the car has been on for awhile or been off all night.

Thanks!

Maybe you should try moving the steering wheel fom side to side when turning the key.
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 03:17 AM
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Zyuan10's Avatar
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Yea... give your steering wheel a little wiggle then you should be able to start up.

When you can't turn your key, you'll notice that the steering wheel won't budge at all. Wiggle it left and right and it'll loosen up. What you probably did (by accident) is that you wiggled your steering wheel after you removed the keys last time.
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 09:08 AM
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It usually happens to me when I park on an incline with the wheels not straight. It's just the steering wheel putting pressure against the wheel lock.

"Did you jiggle the handle? Get back there and jiggle it!" --Ren
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 09:17 AM
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Jiggle the steering wheel!

Originally Posted by LukeaTron
"Did you jiggle the handle? Get back there and jiggle it!" --Ren
Am I dating myself if I start referencing an I Love Lucy episode where Ricky is pretending to be really really old to get rid of a sweet young thing that has a crush on him and he keeps asking her to jiggle his legs... "Keep jiggling Peggy!"
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 09:50 AM
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yeah, what everybody said... The steering wheel locks when you move it while the key is not in the ignition. then when you insert the key and try to turn, you have to move or slightly pull the steering wheel to either side.

Not exactly sure what it's for, but it's a thing that's on most Honda's even dated back to the early 90's, and it's probably on some other Japanese cars too..

chances are you probably accidently moved the steering wheel when you exited the car before, and it locked
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 10:33 AM
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It's not just Honda or Japanese cars. Every car that has a steering lock (which is to say, every car I've ever been in, even old 60's muscle cars) exhibits this behavior under the right conditions. It's just a simple anti-theft device.
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 08:54 PM
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ding ding ding right here i have a 06 too happened to me once when it was really cold and NO its not the steering wheel lock and YES i did jiggle it..i went to start my car and the key only went in half way and it seem like it stuck so after like 1 hour of sitting there and jiggling it the key finally went in....
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 09:18 PM
  #9  
TSXGir1's Avatar
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Originally Posted by 1slicktL
ding ding ding right here i have a 06 too happened to me once when it was really cold and NO its not the steering wheel lock and YES i did jiggle it..i went to start my car and the key only went in half way and it seem like it stuck so after like 1 hour of sitting there and jiggling it the key finally went in....
Yeah, sounds about right. I thought I jiggled the steering wheel (since someone had told me to try that)...but either I didn't do it enough or hard enough, or that's just not the problem. Next time it happens I'll try moving the wheel a bit more and see if that works.

Thanks for the help you guys!
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 06:51 AM
  #10  
miner's Avatar
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Just keep in mind that if you have a lot of wt on your keychain it can cause problems with the ignition lock. My chain only holds the reg key, opener and valet key on a lightweight fob.
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 10:31 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by 1slicktL
ding ding ding right here i have a 06 too happened to me once when it was really cold and NO its not the steering wheel lock and YES i did jiggle it..i went to start my car and the key only went in half way and it seem like it stuck so after like 1 hour of sitting there and jiggling it the key finally went in....
That sounds like something entirely different. Foreign object in the key slot? Damaged or worn key? Crud stuck to the key? Dunno, but nothing about the steering wheel lock will prevent the key from going into the slot.
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 10:43 AM
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Originally Posted by LukeaTron
That sounds like something entirely different. Foreign object in the key slot? Damaged or worn key? Crud stuck to the key? Dunno, but nothing about the steering wheel lock will prevent the key from going into the slot.
Could also be the case if you're using a newly-cut key.. happened to me a few months ago.. but a few jiggles worked!
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 04:06 PM
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even if it was a foriegn object the key was litteraly going in only half way and i was really pushing on it and it wouldn't budge..and no it wasn't a new key
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 04:30 PM
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My keychain isn't heavy at all. Its just as if I had the wrong key and it wouldn't turn. It would go all the way in and then just not budge. I have no idea what it is, I think I'll just take my car in. At least its still under warrenty lol.
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Old Jan 25, 2008 | 05:51 PM
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ur wheel is locking probably jus turn it or watever lol
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