My ignition is a PITA to turn. It acts like the steering wheel is locked but it isn't. sometimes i have to sit for 5-10mins wiggling the key around and forcefully trin to turn it before it "unlocks" and lets me turn the key. This is really starting to annoy me. Is there anything i can do to maybe "lube" it up or does it need replaced? My buddy's moms cavi has the same problem but its not as bad as mine.
lol oh man I had this problem on and off for a few months. Sometimes I was there for 5-10 minutes other times for 2 hours. I remember calling a tow truck. He came and tried for 2 minutes and got it working. I was so mad. I took it to the dealership. They had to replace the whole ignition. I was told over time when you have a lot of keys hanging from your key chain it causes damage to your ignition.
Like Rican's car my cousins Cobalt was doing the same thing and the dealer had to replace the ignition on that and it was only eight months old at the time.
my sunfire did this. stuck ignition, sometimes play with the key and steering wheel. turns out the key i had was worn. i got a new key for it and now the key always turns right away.
I made 2 new keys for my car and it didn't work. Best bet it's more of the ignition than anything else.
yea i just got a new key made too and it got even worse. So im gonna go to a junk yard and pull the ignition out of a junker and get it rekeyed for my key. How much would that cost me to get it rekeyed or whatever you call it.?
Did you have a copy cut of your current key, or did you go to GM dealer with your VIN and whatnot and had them cut you a key by computer? A copy of a bad key is still gonna net you a bad key 9 times outta 10. The computer cut copy from GM is identical to a factory fresh key. Costs more certainly, but 12 bucks (I think thats what I paid for mine) is certainly cheaper than a new ignition lock. The dealer MAY require you to show proof of ownership of the car, ie bring in your title and registration papers and be prepared to show your ID. If they say they can't do it, go to another dealer.
I had a new key cut for my car and at first it locked up like that almost all the time, but now that it's been a few months, it turns normally, first turn, every time. I also noticed that when I first got the key, the edges were very sharp and rough. Now they seem more smooth to me. Maybe all that needed to happen was the key needed to get worn in or something.
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2000 Cavalier Coupe, 138k miles, 2.2 Auto, Silver (alive)
1999 Cavalier Sedan, 237k miles, 2.2 Auto, White (dead)
Mine does the exact same thing. It is really annoying. What I found out to work is some magic with the fingers and hand. I have to push the key itself in but at the same time pull out on the ignition tabs.
It really sucks. I even had a dealer make a key for it from the VIN. (They gave me all kinds of BS about people taking VIN #'s and making keys to steal them. I gave him the title to get the VIN off that.(that made him shut up).
