Ignition Key won't come out???

[49er Mike]

I have a 1997 Outback with 164,000 miles. The ignition key is stuck in the
switch. The steering wheel won't lock up either (probably why the key won't
come out!) It shifts into and comes out of PARK fine. Any ideas on the
cause and the fix?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Voja]

Replace the ignition/horn fuse and check your horn.

I had a problem with air horn I installed a year ago. Compressor rusted
as I washed my car before I went on vacation. After I came back I
started the car and during my ride pressed the horn. Nothing happened
but since the car was working I figured I'll check the horn latter. When
I stopped the engine and wanted to pull out the key, it was stuck. I
went to the service shop and they charged me 'gazillion' dollars for
something that was as easy as replacing the horn/ignition key lock fuse.
My bad.

I have H4 Outback 2002 stw, AT.

Voja

 

[CompUser]

I have a 1997 Outback with 164,000 miles. The ignition key is stuck in the
switch. The steering wheel won't lock up either (probably why the key won't
come out!) It shifts into and comes out of PARK fine. Any ideas on the
cause and the fix?

Did you try turning the key to the LOCK position,
then slightly tugging the wheel left/right, about
1-1.5" from center, as you pull lightly on the
key? I've had this happen on my WRX (very
rarely, like twice in four months) and on all
kinds of other vehicles, and this always worked.

OTOH, your lock cylinder may be worn enough that
it's rotating past where it *should* stop, in the
LOCK position. Try eyeballing it and see if the
key is rotating too far...that might do it too.

Steve

 

[49er Mike]

Voja-

Thanks for the suggestion...but the fuse is fine and the horn honks. I hope
I don't have to spend a "gazillion" dollars to find out it is a simple
problem too!

Mike

 

[49er Mike]

Steve-

You can't even turn the key all of the way to the 'Lock' position. I have
tried rocking the steering wheel before, during, and after trying to turn
the key to no avail. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Mike

 

[Richard Chang]

I have a 1997 Outback with 164,000 miles. The ignition key is stuck in the
switch. The steering wheel won't lock up either (probably why the key won't
come out!) It shifts into and comes out of PARK fine. Any ideas on the
cause and the fix?

I had a Ford Contour with this problem... I sold it, swore off Fords
and bought a Subaru Forester. Don't tell me that Subarus have these
problems too! Ahhhhhh!

I don't know if Subaru locks use a similar mechanism as Ford's, but
this is what worked on my Contour. Here's a picture of a door lock:

<http://www.gregmiller.net/locks/KwiksetFront.jpg>

The ignition switch has a part analogous to the part labeled "plug" in
this picture. It is the part of the switch surrounding the key. In my
Contour, I can remove the key by simultaneously pushing in the "plug"
while pulling the key out. The plug is supposed to go in and out, but
the spring might be worn. The plug on the Contour was large enough for
me to push it in with my finger and I could remove the key with one
hand. (Nobody else could manage this trick, so no one else could drive
my car.) I took a quick look at my Forester and it seems the "plug" is
smaller on Subarus. You can try pushing it in with a screwdriver and
pull out the key with the other hand. If this is the problem, you don't
have to pull very hard.

Good luck.

-R.

 

[Boyer]

I have a 1997 Outback with 164,000 miles. The ignition key is stuck in the
switch. The steering wheel won't lock up either (probably why the key won't
come out!) It shifts into and comes out of PARK fine. Any ideas on the
cause and the fix?

Thanks,
Mike

Check all the fuses (inside and under the hood). I had that and it was a
fuse. If I remember correctly the antenna didn't work as was the door
buzzer.

TTYL

 

[Black Cars]

Subject: Ignition Key won't come out???

From: "49er Mike" (e-mail address removed)
Date: 4/14/04 2:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <(e-mail address removed)>

I have a 1997 Outback with 164,000 miles. The ignition key is stuck in the
switch. The steering wheel won't lock up either (probably why the key won't
come out!) It shifts into and comes out of PARK fine. Any ideas on the
cause and the fix?

Thanks,
Mike

Is the ignition on the steering wheel? Sometimes pushing the steering wheel up
and down can dislodge a key that's stuck in the ignition.

-

Girls dig guys who drive black cars.

 

[49er Mike]

Richard-

Tried it...thanks but it didn't work.

Mike

 

[49er Mike]

I checked all of the fuses under the dash...all were good. I'll look under
the hood tomorrow.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[49er Mike]

Yes, the switch is in the steering column. I've, pushed, pulled, cussed and
caressed and nothing has worked yet!

Thanks,

Mike

ps: The car is white but my girl still digs me!

 

[Dan Duncan]

Maybe I'm missing something obvious here, but several people have
suggested checking a fuse. Why would a fuse keep the ignition
key from coming out? I don't understand.

The only time I had a key that wouldn't come out was because a tumbler
had broken inside the lock cylinder and I had to replace the cylinder.
Luckily this was before ignitions matched doors so I was used to
having two keys for the car. (It was also a Ford, as another poster
here has mentioned... Maybe they used poor quality cylinders for while?)

-DanD

 

[Voja]

In cars with auto transmission when you put in Park, switch in the
ignition will unlock the pin that allows key to be released from the
ignition. The main reason is because drivers sometimes (myself included)
leave the car in Neutral with parking brake applied in order to do
something (whatever the reason). Subaru (and I guess the other
manufacturers are the same) won't let the key out unless you put it in Park.

Now, the same fuse is for the horn. In my case I didn't know that so I
had to pay the price and I figured that might be the case with Mike's car.

Voja

 

[Voja]

Now the only thing that I can see, not sure if somebody mentioned
before, is the last pin in the ignition. It could be broken and won't
release the key.
Talk to your local locksmith(s). Friend of mine is a locksmith and he
thinks it could be the pin.

Voja

 

[Dan Duncan]

In cars with auto transmission when you put in Park, switch in the
ignition will unlock the pin that allows key to be released from the
ignition. The main reason is because drivers sometimes (myself included)
leave the car in Neutral with parking brake applied in order to do
something (whatever the reason). Subaru (and I guess the other
manufacturers are the same) won't let the key out unless you put it in Park.

Doesn't the automatic keep you from turning the cylinder to the point
where you can release the key, rather than holding the key in the lock?
Either way is yet another reason I hate automatics. Yuck.

-DanD

 

[49er Mike]

Thanks,

I am going to a locksmith today, but since the key won't even turn to the "Lock" position, I think it is something else. Is there a switch at the shift lever?

Mike
Now the only thing that I can see, not sure if somebody mentioned before, is the last pin in the ignition. It could be broken and won't release the key.
Talk to your local locksmith(s). Friend of mine is a locksmith and he thinks it could be the pin.

Voja

49er Mike wrote:

I checked all of the fuses under the dash...all were good. I'll look under
the hood tomorrow.

Thanks,
Mike
I have a 1997 Outback with 164,000 miles. The ignition key is stuck in
the
switch. The steering wheel won't lock up either (probably why the key
won't
come out!) It shifts into and comes out of PARK fine. Any ideas on the
cause and the fix?

Thanks,
Mike



Check all the fuses (inside and under the hood). I had that and it was a
fuse. If I remember correctly the antenna didn't work as was the door
buzzer.

TTYL

 

[49er Mike]

Voja-

It was a fuse! In the fuse box under the hood. It also activates the
emergency hazard lights on my car. All done for cheap!

Thanks,
Mike