Silly q re car key - cant get car to start

debtfreein4years

ok toyota avensis and i cant get the ignition to start. what am i doing wrong!!

unlock the car and disable the alarm using the key fob. get in car, shut the door and put key in the ignition, cant get key to turn, what am i doing wrong?

I am being serious, oh has gone away and ive got instructions to start car every 2 weeks and take the handbrake off so it doesnt sieze up. manged to take handbrake off, but didnt have foot on brake so it rolled forward a bit (silly i know) now i need to move it back slightly but cant get the bloody key to work and i dont know where the spare is so im hoping im just having a bimbo moment here.

also dont want to phone parents or friends as its that silly a q to ask and id rather have the embaressment of it on here.

thanks

CvPiper

Probably steering is locked, turn the wheel a bit either way to take the load off the lock, and the key should turn then.

Also just check you don;t have to push a botton by the key whilst turning as you do on some cars.

debtfreein4years

thanks, no push button to press to start. will try the steering thing later on when no one is about.

thanks

Silk

debtfreein4years wrote: »

thanks, no push button to press to start. will try the steering thing later on when no one is about.

thanks

You need to jiggle the wheel from side to side as you are trying to turn the key, some people after they have parked and taken the key out turn the wheel to engage the lock
It's hard to explain but it means its trying to straighten itself but the lock is stopping it and the pressure makes the key stiff to operate.

Lum

Best way I can think to explain it, if you try and turn the wheel, you should find it only moves in one direction, and will only move about an inch before it stops again.

You need to position the wheel half way between the these two points and then you should be able to turn the key easily.

This happens on some cars if, after turning them off, you had to turn the wheel a fair bit to get the steering lock to engage, you can avoid having to do it again if you remember what position the wheel is in now, and after you've moved the car, have the steering wheel in that position and then turn the car off. Then just a quick tug in either direction to put the steering lock back on.

debtfreein4years

thank you everyone. just moved the steering wheel and got the key to turn. bimbo moment over and done with

Lum

debtfreein4years wrote: »

thank you everyone. just moved the steering wheel and got the key to turn. bimbo moment over and done with

It gets everyone if they haven't come across a car where the steering wheel only locks in a few positions. At least you didn't find out about it the way this guy did!