won't let me turn the key

I'm gonna take pretty educated guess and say it's the ignition part that I actually put my key into. (what's that called?)

My car occasionally doesn't want to let me turn the key all the way to turn the engine over. I can unlock the steering wheel, turn on accessories, and try shifting all day. But for some reason it just doesn't wanna let me turn all the way to the 3rd position. Last time it took me about 15 minutes to finally magically let me turn the key all the way. Also, I tried a spare key that isn't worn to no avail.

1) How much is it to fix?
2) What is the name of the part?
3) Can I do it myself?

Ignition cylinder?

Are you talking about when you go to start your car? That key?

If so, try pushing on the brake while doing it, it might be locking up on you. If that dosn't work, then turn the key to the idle position (turn it towards you as far as possible) and then turn it all the way again. If that dosn't work, then it's locked for some reason, try turning the steering wheel, etc.

Spray WD-40 on the key and slide it in and out. Repeat a few times.

Tried the WD-40 and nadda. I'm wondering if the teeth are worn in the "ignition lock cylinder". Also, does anyone know if you buy a new one does it come with a set of keys?

Are the brakes normally really stiff when the car is off? I never noticed before...

Automatic cars tend to have "stiff" feeling brakes while they are turned off. So if yours is auto, thats probably fine.

Ok, well then new ignition lock cylinder it is! Unless anyone has any other ideas...

Ok, well then new ignition lock cylinder it is! Unless anyone has any other ideas...


usually the tip of your key pushes a pin that lets the key turn... is the key really worn?

If you pump the brake with the engine off, pressure builds up in the brake line. It will go away when the car starts or over time.

Automatic cars tend to have "stiff" feeling brakes while they are turned off. So if yours is auto, thats probably fine.

that is the biggest load of bullshit ive ever heard, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with what kind of transmission you have, all cars with power brakes do it

I'm thinking your ignition switch has some bad innards thats blocking you switching to the start position.The electrical switch is down the column driven by a rod thats connected to the lock tumbler/key combo thats visible from outside.There is a spring/slide and contacts inside the switch,and anything can go wrong there.Fords have burnt up by the hundreds due to those type of switches/slides making partial contact when shut down.So it goes to show,they are pretty flimsy when new,and they only get worse.

replace key cylinder and have a locksmith match the keys.

I had a similar problem on my 98 grand am. It sometimes would not let me turn the key and magicaly it would work. It ended up being a switch on the automatic shifter under the shifter councel. I also changed out the ignition, it worked for a while and started doing it again. I got one from the junkyard, you have to take the whole shifter with the switch in it.

That is i tried the ingition first and ended up fixing it with the shifter switch.

Shifter? I'm assuming you mean the gear selector?

To be more descriptive... I can pull the key back (Accessories), and then go forward to the first position, and just before I get to the actual engine/turn over position, it physically doesn't let me.

Geez, last night it took me 15 minutes to get it to let me start the car.

When my Grand Am ignition lockup, I couldn't turn the ignition at all. My Grand Am was not doing exactly like your ignition but similar.

It was as if I had the wrong key in it. I had to play with for 5-10 min. and then it would mysteriously work as if nothing was wrong.So my

It would go for a long time working (days - weeks) as normal and when you least expect it, it would lock up again, usually when you are away from home.

I went to the dealer to get the Pontiac ignition after the cheap aftermarket ignition didn't work, and he told me about this switch on the gear selector that could go bad. (located on the gear selector bracket under the center counsel).

On my Grand Am there is an square access cover on the passengers side of the gear selector counsel, about the size of a quarter. If you pop of this cover and push the button behind the cover, it lets you shift the car out of park without having the key in the ignition ( used for towing I guess, so you can lock the steering with the car in neutral while towing).

I think that is the switch, it in that area under the counsel. It tells the ignition when the car is park or not in gear. It is the same as if you had the car in Drive and tried to remove the key, it wont let you. Except it thinks its in gear and wont let you turn the key on.

But the first thing to do is try the ignition, it will be the cheapest first try. When you go to the dealer to get the switch, they will have to sell you the whole gear selector at 100's of dollars. I found one in the salvage yard and got lucky. Its hasn't had a problem for at least 8 months now.

Just remember, my car was a Grand Am 1998, I don't know what year your car is and if the Cavalier has the same setup.

your key may be in backwards... i have an 01 and for some reason my key works in only one direction. couldnt tell u why but thats life. mark one side and try both ways.. see what works

On my 98 it was that the button on the shifter was barely being pressed by a new shifter cover it also might be sticking it wont let you turn into the third spot if its pressed the slightest bit I hate some safety precautions!

i have a similiar problem i can turn my engine over w/ my key if its turned one way but if its flipped the other way i cant turn anything w/ it it just locks its also the same way on my doors and on my trunk wtf? and yes its the original gm key from the dealer i dont get it is there anything i can do to fix it?

Nah, I even tried a new key I never used. It's the ignition lock cylinder itself. I found this out when my buddy decided to rip the steering column apart. He actually started the car with the ignition switch, but of course it croaked from the theft system. Now I just need get GM to get it coded or keyed. I wonder how that'll go...

Ok, where does the ignition lock cylinder wire run to? The PCM?

i actually had the exact same problem w/ my 97 z24 today i could not turn the key no matter what i did so out of frustration i wipped out my pocket knife and jammed it into the key hole in my transmission and sure enough my key finally turned and she cranked right up so i mean either somthing was just stuck or there was an object lodged in there who knows but thats how i avoided shooting my car hope it works for you to

i actually had the exact same problem w/ my 97 z24 today i could not turn the key no matter what i did so out of frustration i wipped out my pocket knife and jammed it into the key hole in my transmission and sure enough my key finally turned and she cranked right up so i mean either somthing was just stuck or there was an object lodged in there who knows but thats how i avoided shooting my car hope it works for you to

Well I ordered a new ignition lock cylinder. $115 shipped :(

I guess what happens is over time dirt... dust and metal shavings from worn out keys get in there and gum up the tiny pins stuff. Apparently cleaning isn't much of an option either.

I was starting my car there for a while with a screw driver, but that just stopped working today for some reason. Right after I changed my damn oil too.... I found that turning the key & ignition switch at the same time yielded some results.

I know someone has a slight idea... where does the ignition lock cylinder electrical connector run to so I can switch it out!?

That Sucks lol. My buddy had the same problem. He told me that his mechanic said that the ignition pin was broken. Everytime he got it to start it was cuz the thing moved back into place. I dont know much about that problem just tellin you what my friend told me. Sorry i have no good advice for u

Tore apart the dash. The ignition lock cylinder is on top of the instrument cluster! Bah!

After that I found a post somewhere on here about re-learning the new lock cylinder. Leave the key in the run position until the theft light stops blinking. (Note: Some newer cars have radio re-activation)