A car key is not turning in the ignition in most cases because the steering lock is under load, and rocking the steering wheel left and right while turning the key frees it in seconds without force.
An ignition barrel is the lock cylinder behind the key slot, a row of spring loaded wafers that line up only when the cuts of the correct key lift each one to the same height. The key then turns the barrel, the steering lock bolt pulls back and the ignition switch powers the car. A car key not turning means one of those parts is blocked. Five checks in order clear the common cases from the driver seat, and six causes explain the rest, two in the car controls, two in the key and the barrel, and two around them. A worn key is the usual fault once the checks fail, and a key cut to code costs from £35 in Liverpool and takes 15 to 30 minutes at the car.
The first step, an ignition that locks up, WD40, a key that does not rotate, a free steering wheel, a flat battery, the door lock, Volkswagen keys, wear on the barrel, an engine that does not start, a key that does not come out, force, the time for a new key, the wrong key and the life of a key raise fifteen further questions.
The list below gives four key takeaways on a car key not turning in the ignition.
- The steering lock is the most common cause, and rocking the wheel with light pressure on the key frees it.
- A spare key that turns at once places the fault in the worn first key.
- Force snaps the blade at the shoulder and turns a free fix into an extraction.
- An auto locksmith cuts a worn key again to code, so the wear is not copied onto the new blade.
Which 5 checks get the key turning?
Five checks get the key turning in most cars, and the steering wheel check alone clears the majority of cases. The list below gives the five checks in order for a car key not turning in the ignition.
- Rock the steering wheel left and right with light, steady pressure on the key, and turn the key as the wheel gives.
- Push the gear selector fully into Park with the foot brake pressed, or select neutral in a manual car.
- Try the spare key, since a spare that turns at once places the fault in the first key.
- Slide the key in and out a few times, wipe the blade clean and check that it sits fully home in the barrel.
- Check the interior light, and charge or jump start a flat car battery on a car with an electronic steering lock.
The five checks take two or three minutes and cost nothing. A car key that still does not turn after all five is worn, or the barrel is, and no amount of force changes that.
Why does a car key not turn?
A car key does not turn because the steering lock, the gear selector, the key or the barrel blocks the turn. The list below gives six causes in order of frequency.
- The steering lock bolt sits under load, since the wheel was turned after the key came out.
- The gear selector of an automatic rests short of Park, and the shift interlock holds the barrel.
- The key is worn or bent, so the rounded cuts no longer lift every wafer to the same height.
- The wafers inside the ignition barrel are worn or sticking, most often on a high mileage car.
- Dust, pocket fluff or a fragment of metal sits in the barrel and stops the key going fully home.
- The car battery is flat, which holds an electronic steering lock shut.
The first two causes sit in the car controls and clear without tools. The third and the fourth are wear, and they look alike from the driver seat. A car key that needed a wiggle for weeks before it stopped is the sign of wear, and one test tells the key from the barrel.
Is the key or the barrel worn?
The spare key shows whether the key or the barrel is worn, and a spare that turns at once clears the barrel. The table below compares five signs of a worn car key with the same signs of a worn ignition barrel.
| Sign | Worn key | Worn ignition barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Spare key | Turns at once | Binds in the same way |
| Blade | Rounded cuts or a slight bend | Sharp cuts and a straight blade |
| Door lock | The same key is stiff there as well | The key is smooth there |
| Feel | Turns after a light wiggle | Binds at the same point with every key |
| Fix | A key cut to code | Barrel repaired or replaced |
A worn key is the cheaper fault and the more common one. A car key copied from a worn key carries the wear onto the new blade, which is why the cut is made to the code of the car and not from the old key.
Which mistakes damage the ignition barrel?
Five mistakes damage the ignition barrel or the key, and force on a key that does not turn is the most expensive one. The list below gives the five mistakes.
- Force with pliers or a tight grip twists the blade and snaps it at the shoulder.
- Oil based sprays leave a film that gathers dust on the wafers.
- A tap on the key head with a tool bends the wafers and the blade together.
- A heavy keyring hangs on the barrel on every journey and wears the wafers early.
- A copy made from the worn key repeats the fault on a new blade.
A blade that breaks leaves a fragment in the barrel, and the job then starts with an extraction. A car key that resists gets light pressure only, then the checks, then a call.
Who repairs a key that does not turn?
An auto locksmith repairs a key that does not turn where the key is worn, and an ignition specialist or a main dealer replaces a barrel that is worn out.
The work starts at the car. The blade and the ignition barrel are inspected, the spare is tried and the cuts are measured against the code of the car. A worn blade is cut again to code first, before any work on the barrel. ADC Locksmith Liverpool supplies a car key cut to code from £35 with no call out fee and no VAT, usually in 15 to 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. The code comes from manufacturer data through the vehicle identification number, so the new blade matches the car as it left the factory. Craig Evans holds SERMI approval, the accreditation for access to that data, and checks photo ID and proof of ownership first. A key with a chip is cut and paired to the car in the same visit.
What does the ignition key repair cost?
The ignition key repair costs from £35 for a standard blade cut to code and from £60 for a laser cut blade in Liverpool, and the first five checks cost nothing. The table below compares five outcomes by price.
| Outcome | Price | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| Steering lock, gear selector or battery cleared | £0 | The driver |
| Standard blade cut to code | From £35 | ADC Locksmith Liverpool |
| Laser cut or dimple blade cut to code | From £60 | ADC Locksmith Liverpool |
| New key cut and programmed | From £120 | ADC Locksmith Liverpool |
| Ignition barrel replaced | £150 to £400 | Independent ignition specialist |
Most cases end at the first or the second row. ADC Locksmith Liverpool gives a fixed price for a car key on the call, before travel.
How do drivers stop a key binding?
Five habits stop a key binding in the barrel, and a light keyring is the one that protects the wafers every day. The list below gives the five habits.
- Carry the car key on a light ring, with house keys on a second ring.
- Park with the front wheels straight, so the steering lock bolt rests without load.
- Order a spare cut to code while the first key still turns.
- Wipe the blade when it picks up dirt, and keep it out of pockets full of grit.
- Act on the first wiggle, since a key that binds once binds again.
A car key that asks for a second attempt is giving the early warning. A blade cut to code at that stage costs less than an extraction and a new key together.
What else do drivers ask about ignition keys?
Drivers ask about ignition keys in fifteen further questions on a car key not turning. The first step, an ignition that locks up, WD40, a key that does not rotate, a free steering wheel, a flat battery, the door lock, Volkswagen keys, wear on the barrel, an engine that does not start, a key that does not come out, force, the time for a new key, the wrong key and the life of a key are the fifteen topics, and the questions below answer each one.
Frequently asked questions
What do drivers do when a car key does not turn?
When a car key does not turn, drivers rock the steering wheel left and right with light pressure on the key.
The gear selector and the spare key are the second and third checks.
What causes the ignition to lock up?
A turned wheel causes the ignition to lock up, since the steering lock bolt then sits under load.
Worn wafers in the barrel cause the same block on high mileage cars.
Is WD40 safe to spray in the ignition?
No, WD40 is not safe to spray in the ignition barrel, since the oil film gathers dust on the wafers.
A dry graphite lock spray is the type made for a barrel.
Why is the key not rotating in the lock?
The key is not rotating in the lock because the cuts no longer lift every wafer level.
A worn blade, a bent blade and dirt in the barrel are the three usual reasons.
Why does the key not turn with the steering wheel free?
The key does not turn with the steering wheel free where the gear selector sits short of Park or the key is worn.
A spare key that turns settles the question in seconds.
Does a flat battery stop a key turning?
Yes, a flat battery stops a key turning on cars with an electronic steering lock or a shift interlock.
A dim interior light confirms it, and a jump start releases the key.
Why is the car key not turning in the door?
The car key is not turning in the door because the door barrel has seized or the blade has worn.
The guide to a car that does not unlock with the key covers the door lock.
Why does a Volkswagen key not turn in the ignition?
A Volkswagen key does not turn in the ignition for the same reasons as any other make, most often the steering lock.
Toyota and Honda keys follow the same five checks, and wear shows first on high mileage cars.
Does a worn key damage the ignition barrel?
Yes, a worn key damages the ignition barrel over time, since rounded cuts grind the wafers on every turn.
A key cut to code restores the original profile and stops the wear.
Why does the key turn but the engine stay off?
The key turns but the engine stays off where the car rejects the chip in the key or the car battery is flat.
That fault sits in the electronics and not in the barrel.
What if the key does not turn and does not come out?
A key that does not turn and does not come out is held by the same steering lock or gear selector fault.
The checks for a car key stuck in the ignition free it.
Does forcing the key break it?
Yes, forcing the key breaks it at the shoulder, where the blade is thinnest.
The repair of a broken car key then starts with an extraction from £70.
How long does a key cut to code take?
A key cut to code takes 15 to 30 minutes at the car.
A key with a chip is paired to the car in the same visit.
Does the wrong key fit the ignition?
Yes, the wrong key fits the ignition of some cars from the same maker and then refuses to turn.
Two similar keys in one household are the usual mix up.
Does an ignition key wear out?
Yes, an ignition key wears out, since the cuts round off a little with every turn.
High mileage and a heavy keyring bring the wear sooner.
Based in Liverpool and still stuck?
ADC Locksmith Liverpool repairs, programs and replaces car keys at the roadside across Liverpool and Merseyside, usually on the same day. Craig Evans holds SERMI approval and a 5.0 rating from 341 Google reviews. A call to 07731 544220 brings a fixed price before Craig travels.
Call 07731 544220