# Will replacing an ignition cylinder lock prevent the steering wheel from locking the ignition **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 28, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-replacing-an-ignition-cylinder-lock-prevent-the-steering-wheel-from-locking-the-ignition/691886 "2014-06-28T21:18:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-replacing-an-ignition-cylinder-lock-prevent-the-steering-wheel-from-locking-the-ignition/691886/1 "2014-06-28T21:18:57Z")
07 sonata. The steering wheel and ignition locks at least once a month (I will shut the car off then be unable to turn the key to get it started again), and it is getting very annoying. I have so far always been able to get it loose, but I’m sure sooner or later that will not be the case. Doing tricks like moving the steering wheel, manipulating the gearshift, pressing on the brake, pushing the key in & out, etc. work but they seem to be working less and less with time. What parts, if any, can I replace that will stop this from happening in the future? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-replacing-an-ignition-cylinder-lock-prevent-the-steering-wheel-from-locking-the-ignition/691886/2 "2014-06-28T23:36:27Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > 07 sonata. The steering wheel and ignition locks at least once a month (I will shut the car off then be unable to turn the key to get it started again), and it is getting very annoying. I have so far always been able to get it loose, but I’m sure sooner or later that will not be the case. Doing tricks like moving the steering wheel, manipulating the gearshift, pressing on the brake, pushing the key in & out, etc. work but they seem to be working less and less with time. > > What parts, if any, can I replace that will stop this from happening in the future? yes replacing the lock works if it’s defective, no if it’s a design flaw. I’ve had a number of cars do this if the key is not removed properly. [It’s not just you.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReYMWP4Zgbw) Do NOT spray it WD-40. This is death to key locks as it will gum them up over time. Since I’m not familiar with your particular car I’ll give you some things to try. Stick the tip of the key in and GENTLY turn it to the left and right. This works on my Saturn because I pulled the key out just shy of it’s normal removal position and the mechanism jams. Stick the key in all the way and rapidly move the key up and down while turning it. If a pin is stuck in the cylinder this will help jostle it out. If this works then use a lubricant meant for locks. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-replacing-an-ignition-cylinder-lock-prevent-the-steering-wheel-from-locking-the-ignition/691886/3 "2014-06-30T18:34:31Z")
It sounds like one of your safety switches is going bad. There is the neutral safety switch that requires the vehicle be in “P” or “N” to start, the switch that requires the brake pedal be pressed, and possibly others. From your description it’s impossible to tell which specific one it it may be, but I’d be inclided to suspect the neutral safety switch first. It looks like the part runs $30-40. I don’t know how to replace it one on that model, but it it is usually fairly simple. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-replacing-an-ignition-cylinder-lock-prevent-the-steering-wheel-from-locking-the-ignition/691886/4 "2014-06-30T21:28:53Z")
What exactly is a safety switch? From what I’ve read of my problem, the ignition cylinder tends to go bad at about 60k, and I’m double that. I’ve never heard of the safety switch being a potential problem for this issue. My problem is that the ignition is totally locked up, I can’t turn the key at all when this happens. So far, I’ve been able to fix it via a mix of turning the steering wheel, putting the key in & out, moving the gearshift around and pressing down hard on the brake. But it seems to be getting worse. The last two times took quite a bit of effort, vs the amount of effort needed 6 months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-replacing-an-ignition-cylinder-lock-prevent-the-steering-wheel-from-locking-the-ignition/691886/5 "2014-07-01T13:24:12Z")
From [here](http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/app/newsfeed/detail?article=800664803): > [@](#): > > There are many reasons that a car won’t start, but one possibility lies with a little-known auto part called the neutral safety switch. Essentially, this switch is present in all automatic transmission vehicles to prevent the engine from being started when the car is in any gear other than neutral or park. Starting the engine while in a different gear would cause the vehicle to immediately start moving and could be extremely dangerous, so the safety switch’s job is to prevent such an incident from occurring. > > Unfortunately, if the switch falls out of alignment, it can potentially prevent the vehicle from starting at all. Unlike other electrical switches in the car, the neutral safety switch is connected to the vehicle’s gear shifter. This essentially closes the circuit when the car is in neutral or park, but opens it when it’s in any other gear. > > Many drivers with a neutral safety switch problem might find that they can start the car from gears that they are not supposed to, or the car might start if they hold the shifter in a certain way. Sometimes it simply might take several tries to start the car, but it does start eventually. Rereading your post it, if the steering wheel locks and the key won’t turn then the ignition switch interlock would be the place to begin. There is a safety switch behind the brake pedal as well that requires the brake be pressed before allowing the car to shift out of park and could prevent the car from starting, but should not prevent the key from turning. I got caught up in the “Doing tricks like moving the steering wheel, manipulating the gearshift, pressing on the brake, pushing the key in & out, etc. work” part of the post and my brain went to safety switches. My bad, but now you know what a neutral safety switch is!