# chevy cavalier

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 10, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020 "2012-08-10T00:17:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mebenana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mebenana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mebenana)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020/1 "2012-08-10T00:17:44Z")

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The key won’t turn the ignition over in my 2003 chevy cavalier. Is there anyone who has also had this this problem with the cavalier?

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**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020/2 "2012-08-10T00:21:36Z")

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Yeah, I did. New battery fixed it right up.

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**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:** [August 10, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020/3 "2012-08-10T01:00:36Z")

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what do you mean exactly?

-you turn the key like normal, but nothing happens?

or

- you physically can’t turn the key?

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**Author:** ![ClevelandProud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@ClevelandProud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ClevelandProud)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020/4 "2012-08-10T01:38:35Z")

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Q) Does your vehicle have an automatic transmission?

If so, you what to check to see if your vehicle is in completely in Park.

The thing to do is to wiggle the gear selector making darn sure that the gear is in Park.

Many vehicles are designed with a parking lock feature so that one cannot start the vehicle while “in gear.”

My vehicle is a 1998 Chevrolet Malibu and I talk from experience!

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\*"… The shift lock system is designed to ensure the proper operation of the automatic transmission,

The driver must depress the brake pedal in order to move the gear selector from Part to any other range.

In addition, the ignition key cannot be turned to the Lock position and removed from the ignition switch unless the gear selector is placed in the Park position. …"  
\*

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020/5 "2012-08-10T09:34:20Z")

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If you “physically can’t turn the key,”

Try turning the steering wheel, one way or the other.

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**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chevy-cavalier/631020/6 "2012-08-10T15:15:21Z")

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It’s a ten-year-old Cavalier. Throw it away and get something new.