HELP! Key is stuck in the Ignition

snowblix · Post by **snowblix** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:54 am

Hi guys.. My key has been stuck in my ignition socket for the pass one day and no matter how hard i try to get it out, it just wouldnt budge. I have tried reversing and forwarding my car countless of times and steering my wheel to the left, then to the right but that didnt help at all. Someone, please render some advice. Thanks in advance.

akumi · Post by **akumi** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 1:54 am

this is such a common fto problem, i had the same problem, what i do is move the gear stick to P then D then P afew times and try getting the keys out.

or try this
http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... =key+stuck

BuCkEt · Post by **BuCkEt** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 12:22 pm

No this sounds more like the metal shard problem present in pretty much every FTO.

Essentially you have to dissasemble the steering wheel column (easier if you take the wheel off - unless its an airbag wheel) to get to the key lock behind the ignition.

You will see a plastic slide (mine was a white-ish colour) - pull this out with one hand while the other hand is below to catch something.

Once you pull out that plastic slide a TINY shard of metal will drop out. Once you've got that piece out - just reassemble everything and put the wheel back on.

I took the opportunity to apply a small amount of silicone based lubricant to the metal casing holding that plastic piece in - it appears that what causes that metal peice to break off in the first place is a lack of lube and this it grinds untill it snaps.

snowblix · Post by **snowblix** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:16 pm

thanks for your advices guys.. tried akumi's method but it didn't work.. will try to bucket's way and hope it will be effective (fingers crossed) Will keep you guys updated..

Cheers

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:35 pm

well, i had the same problem once.

apparently FTOs (or similar cars) have been designed to have this switch to hold the keys in whether or not you have it in P or D or where ever.

what needed to be done to my car was to open up the key barrel, and there is just one little switch and you just need to flick it over (like an "on" or "off" switch). but to get to it, you need to open up the plastic under the steering wheel, and the plastic casing around the key barrel.

hope it helps. i got it done by a key man who showed me step by step, but costed like $45 or something.

snowblix · Post by **snowblix** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 12:19 am

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP GUYS!!!

finally got the problem solved.. Took the car of the short drive and what do you know... the key came off after 2 days of being stuck in that silly ignition...

snowblix · Post by **snowblix** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:50 pm

Gosh.. my key got stuck again and this time... regardless of how far i drive, it is not coming out.... YYgirl... can you please pm the address of the locksmith that you went to. thank in advance

Cheers

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:12 am

it's on the gold coast near burleigh, would you want to go there to do it?? let me know if you want to go there sometime

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:43 am

Terry's Locksmith Service
3/ 14 Ramly Drv Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
ph: (07) 5576 5448 Locks & Locksmiths

I think this is the place i went to, because i was actually making a lot of calls from yellowpages search to see if they had any experience with FTOs. Call them first to check they've done it before (that's what I did).

good luck

snowblix · Post by **snowblix** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:08 am

thank you very much.. you are an Angel! Will probably do it after the festive season... SO which model do you drive? got a picture of your car??

YYgirl · Post by **YYgirl** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:05 pm

i drive a GR, but i dont have any pictures!!

BuCkEt · Post by **BuCkEt** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:54 pm

Wowa dudey - unless you don't know what you're doing you really don't need to take it to a shop.

Take off the steering wheel (allows better access)
Take off plastic panel under steering wheel
Take of the plastic casing behind the steering wheel.

You should now have easy access to all the gadgets under the steering wheel column. Just follow the ignition block a few cm's back and you'll see some screws and a white plastic "clip" that is screwed in.

You need to get that plastic clip out so the broken piece of metal inside will drop out. That little bugger is stopping the key from coming out.

Now just put it all back together.

FTO AUSTRALIA

HELP! Key is stuck in the Ignition

HELP! Key is stuck in the Ignition

YYGirl...

YYGIRl