Texas Girl needs help!!

Hi everyone. I am at my wit's END! My 2001 Buick Regal LS is sitting in my driveway with a full tank of gas and no way of leaving! The battery ran down, and so after getting a jump and driving it for a while, I went home. When I tried to start the car once more, the steering column has locked up, and the key will go in and come out, but will not turn forward nor backwards. The dealer here in San Antonio is not being any help. In the meantime I am being forced to ride to work in a vehicle that has no air conditioning. Can you imagine? TEXAS WEATHER?!? I am desperate. Has anyone encountered this type of problem before? I have checked everything, my battery is fine. Please help me, and if you cant help, please POINT me in the right direction.

Hi.
I have a couple ideas on this problem.
These cars have an electric park lock that needs to actuate for proper operation. I think the actuator is intended to keep the shifter from moving out of park with the key off and it requires a press on the brake pedal too, but it could be related to this if the actuator was stuck or not in the proper position.

Check if the recent jump start blew any fuses such as the "Park Lock" fuse, the "BTSI Lock fuse", or the "IGN1" Maxifuse. There are 2 fuse boxes, one under the hood and one inside the car. In the 1998 Regal like mine, most fuses are located behind a pull off panel on the right side (end) of the dash and a 2001 is probably similiar.

This car also has a mechanical ignition lock that prevents moving the key if it thinks the shift lever is not in park. Make sure the transmission shifter is all the way into the PARK position.
One more things - If you parked on a hill or with the wheel turned you could try turning the steering wheel (with 5-10lbs of force) back towards the straight position to release pressure on the steering lock while gently turning the key.

Your key is in good shape right? Maybe the key cylinder needs a drop of oil.

Good Luck.

You say that there was no previous problem, correct? Well, I'm just curious if you locked your wheel under tension. Try putting your key in the ignition and then while trying to turn the key on normally, use your other hand to move the wheel back and forth that very little bit. If the wheel is locked with tension, the wheel may be forcing pressure on the steering wheel lock pin, which is actuated by the lock cylinder. Any pressure on that pin will not let the cylinder turn. Tell me how you do. And if this starts your car again, just remember you are not the first or last person that this has ever happened too. -Chris

HI TGirl

I just moved from houston to phoenix last year and had the same problem here. More than likely the problem is your ignition module. What happens is that the module does not read the ignition hip in the key so you wilol not be able to unlock the steering, or the shift lever, or start the car because the computer does not recognize there is a key in the ignition. You may be able to use the shift bypass button (located to the right of the shift lever) to shift into drive but more than likely you won't be able to get the car started anyway. Ask the dealer to check out you ignition module and harness. If it turns out to be the problem they eill replace it ($400). Hope this helps and good Luck

Try this while trying to turn the key wiggle the steering wheel back and forth like you are trying to make a turn.

The ignition module has nothing to do with your problem.