# Stranded at the Dr **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 3, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448 "2024-06-03T20:07:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/1 "2024-06-03T20:07:43Z")
I’m starting my car left handed 'cause of my broken wrist. I think I pulled the key out before the ignition was in the right spot. Now the key won’t go back in. I’ve tried wriggling the wheel breal pedal gear shift, nothing works. Now we’re waiting for the tow truck, and they are taking their swweeet time. Grrr ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/2 "2024-06-03T20:49:17Z")
Good lord, girl. You have as many kerfuffles as me. Key the right way up? Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/3 "2024-06-03T21:09:48Z")
It could be worse. Many years ago I parked at the airport just in time to catch my flight. This was back before electronic keyfobs were common, so I manually locked the door before closing it, and as the door swung shut it knocked the keys out of my hand and neatly deposited them on the driver’s seat, then closed and locked before I could react. I had no real choice but to wait for a tow truck and miss my flight. I didn’t want to leave the keys out where they were plainly visible, and besides I think my luggage was still locked in the trunk! Hope your dilemma is solved by now! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/4 "2024-06-03T21:14:58Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Key the right way up? Are there any right way key’s-up left in the auto industry? Seems to me, what physical keys you need to put in the ignition are left in the auto industry, all work both ways (there is no right-way up/upside-down to them). Granted, old cars still exist but it has been ages since I saw an auto-key like that (90’s if not older). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/5 "2024-06-03T21:28:29Z")
I don’t know. I just said that in an effort to “try everything”. She’s doing it over the column, with her non-dominate hand. Things get confused in those scenarios. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/6 "2024-06-03T23:00:11Z")
Once I got a nice ambulance ride to the hospital, but going back I had to walk home with my broken arm. If it had been the legs I would have had to call a taxi or something. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/7 "2024-06-03T23:52:51Z")
probably too late by now, but unless its a fairly new car - older cars were notorious for having the steering-wheel-lock interfere with the key (and vice versa) on the remote chance you are still there, try rocking the steering wheel left and right while doing the key thingy … if its a newer car, there might be a problem with they gear shifter (car not perceiving it to be in “P”, hence not returning the key … my wife was stranded once in a Volvo like this … took a lot of time of going back and forth between the gear shifter, the brake pedal and the key again, probably too late for you, but might help the next person… ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/8 "2024-06-04T01:14:18Z")
So first thanks for the suggestions. It’s a 2016 Kia Soul so key goes in either way. I tried wiggling the wheel which was not locked as it should have been. I tried pushing the break while moving the steering wheel, I also tried messing with the gear shift, and.incidentally, turned the key around a lot. I, around the time I posted, called my son and his girlfriend to pick up hubster. He fell a couple days befo t e I did and his Doc. Said he has craced ribs. Anyway my son and his girlfriend showed up moments before the tow truck. I asked the driver if he could mess with it. After about 2 min. he got the key in and started it. 😃 🙄 Son and girlfriend made us drive her car home 'cause the air works much better than mine. All’s well that ends well I guess. We get his feeding tube replaced and see his neurologist tomorrow. Who knos what adventures and hijinks will ensue? None, hopefully none. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/9 "2024-06-04T01:35:45Z")
Crossed fingers. (Not yours 🤗) ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/10 "2024-06-04T01:40:33Z")
Thanks…it’s been a full couple of moths. We could use a fricken’ break…that isn’t a bone. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/11 "2024-06-04T20:40:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > > > Key the right way up? > > Are there any right way key’s-up left in the auto industry? > > Seems to me, what physical keys you need to put in the ignition are left in the auto industry, all work both ways (there is no right-way up/upside-down to them). > > Granted, old cars still exist but it has been ages since I saw an auto-key like that (90’s if not older). My '72 Karmann-Ghia had a one-way key for the doors and a two-way key for the ignition. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/12 "2024-06-04T22:12:02Z")
IIRC, that was par for the course in the 70ies to early 80ies … until central lock became a thing … ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/13 "2024-06-06T01:58:23Z")
So stuff went fine Tuesday. Except we waited an hour and a half past his procedure time. We got some really good information from the specialist regarding hubster’s meds. Hopefully she can get him functioning better. So better than Monday by a long shot. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stranded-at-the-dr/1002448/14 "2024-06-06T01:59:26Z")
Next car will have remote start.