# Car is Dead, Key Stuck in Ignition. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055 "2013-04-07T04:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/1 "2013-04-07T04:29:55Z")
I went to store this afternoon and parked car in driveway because I was going to mow the yard this afternoon. I left keys in the ignition. Everything was working normally. Went outside to lock up and Bam, Car is dead. Completely dead. I tried to start car. Dead, and now I can’t even get keys out of the ignition. Car: 2003 Grand Prix There was no apparent drain on battery. Lights were not on. And the Battery is relatively new. Less than 3 years. Nothing like this has happened before. Saturday Night. I locked up car with spare key but dang, I don’t know where to start. Anyone have a clue and what I can do tomorrow evening? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/2 "2013-04-07T04:35:06Z")
Wiggle the shifter. Sounds like you have a bad shifter linkage, or bad Neutral Safety Switch. ETA: Wiggle the shift lever while trying to start the car. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/3 "2013-04-07T04:43:45Z")
I assume the key was not turned fully off. If so, the ignition lock cylinder control actuator (and possibly some other circuits) would draw power, and when the battery got low enough the actuator would not allow the key to be turned fully off and removed. You may be able to remove the key by using another vehicle and jumper cables. A fully discharged automotive battery has been compromised. The best bet for reliability is to replace it. If you want to try to reuse it, it should be fully charged with a battery charger at a slow rate (\<4 amps). ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/4 "2013-04-07T04:50:55Z")
Are the wheels turned to one extreme or the other? If they are, see if you can turn the steering wheel more toward center before trying the key again. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/5 "2013-04-07T06:13:08Z")
Jiggle tyhe wheel too as you’re trying to pull the key out. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/6 "2013-04-07T06:43:25Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Jiggle tyhe wheel too as you’re trying to pull the key out. What Gary T said and this. It sounds like the steering wheel locking mechanism is jamming the key mechanism. This happens fairly often on my Saturn. You’re not trying to pull the key out. You’re trying to turn the key to the proper off position so you can pull the key out. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/7 "2013-04-07T07:49:14Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Jiggle tyhe wheel too as you’re trying to pull the key out. That should do it and was the first thing I thought of. Sometimes my steering wheel locks up so I can’t turn the key to start it and giving the wheel a jiggle always loosens it. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/8 "2013-04-07T13:59:10Z")
and sometimes when worn or jammed a jiggle to release the wheel won’t be enough. do jiggle it for a while (until veins bulging in head) and swear a whole bunch. repeat. but you may have to give the wheel a yank to the side you expect it should go. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/9 "2013-04-07T16:03:37Z")
As much as tried to jiggle and jostle, that key would not come out. Could not get the car out Park either. Jumped the Battery and the car sputtered, and it turned over and started. Took it to AutoZone and the battery was indeed dead. I bought it in September 2009. Thanks for the tips, but there was no way that key was coming out of the ignition without some extra juice. BTW, when did batteries get so expensive? Seems like I remember buying batteries for years and years and they were always about 60-70 dollars. This one was $120. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/10 "2013-04-07T16:17:39Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > BTW, when did batteries get so expensive? Seems like I remember buying batteries for years and years and they were always about 60-70 dollars. This one was $120. [Thanks, Obama](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/thanks-obama-02.gif). ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/11 "2013-04-07T16:46:39Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > As much as tried to jiggle and jostle, that key would not come out. Could not get the car out Park either. > > Jumped the Battery and the car sputtered, and it turned over and started. > > Took it to AutoZone and the battery was indeed dead. I bought it in September 2009. > > Thanks for the tips, but there was no way that key was coming out of the ignition without some extra juice. > > BTW, when did batteries get so expensive? Seems like I remember buying batteries for years and years and they were always about 60-70 dollars. This one was $120. the price of lead has gone up quite a bit in the last decade. car batteries contain a hefty amount of lead. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/12 "2013-04-07T16:48:01Z")
> [@Yorikke](#): > > [Thanks, Obama](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/thanks-obama-02.gif). **Moderator Note** **Yorikke** , political jabs are not allowed in General Questions. Since you may have intended this as a joke, I’m making this a note instead of a warning, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/13 "2013-04-07T18:20:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > **Yorikke** , political jabs are not allowed in General Questions. Since you may have intended this as a joke, I’m making this a note instead of a warning, but don’t do this again. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Yeah, it was a joke. Had no idea it would be taken as a political jab. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/14 "2013-04-07T18:25:45Z")
> [@Yorikke](#): > > Yeah, it was a joke. Had no idea it would be taken as a political jab. Joke or not, it’s the sort of thing that can lead to a hijack, so best to avoid it in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/15 "2013-04-07T19:23:55Z")
> [@Yorikke](#): > > Yeah, it was a joke. Had no idea it would be taken as a political jab. Stop having fun! ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/16 "2013-04-07T19:51:43Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Stop having fun! I blame Ob- No, maybe not… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/17 "2013-04-07T19:58:34Z")
Thank God we’ve avoided a hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-is-dead-key-stuck-in-ignition/655055/18 "2013-04-07T22:04:04Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Stop having fun! Yes sir ☹