Regal LS key problems

[kamickokrolock]

Hi there Im new and would greatly appreciate if anyone could give me any ideas as to what is wrong with our car.
We have a 2000 Buick Regal Ls. As I was not there I can only tell you what the stubborn driver told me. First the key would not come out so the driver turned the key forward and backward until it came out, I don't know wether it came out on it's own or it was forced. Now the steering collumn is locked up and the key wont start. do you think he has damaged the the key (it is equipped with a PASS-key II) or something else is wrong?

Thanks,
Kami

[BNaylor]

Welcome to AF.

First make sure the steering is not at an extreme locked position. Move the steering wheel back and forth. Insert key back into ignition and then try going to the off, run and start positions. The position where the key will remove or insert is the lock position. Also, try a spare key if available.

If all else fails you may have a BTSI and key release issue so that would require diagnostics and troubleshooting.

[kamickokrolock]

Thank you,
We have already tried turning the wheel and reinserting the key, but the wheel wont budge an inch. We'll try a different key, but I fear that what the problem was, was that there was a problem with the battery and the key needed to be manually released ( which has happened before) and the driver, not knowing this and being very impatient, twisted and forced it out breaking it

Kami

[BNaylor]

Yeah it doesn't sound good. When the key is forced in a dead battery situation or a bonfide BTSI issue instead of using the manual key release device under the steering column in that access hole is the key cylinder gets damaged which means the key lock cylinder will probably need replacement.

[capitalv]

I also have a 2002 Regal and am having trouble getting the key to turn enough to take the key out of the ignition. I noticed that when I start the car, it doesn't turn over very fast (I think the battery is going bad). If the battery is bad, will that be a factor in removing the key? Also where is this manual key release located. Thanks!

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by capitalv

I also have a 2002 Regal and am having trouble getting the key to turn enough to take the key out of the ignition. I noticed that when I start the car, it doesn't turn over very fast (I think the battery is going bad). If the battery is bad, will that be a factor in removing the key? Also where is this manual key release located. Thanks!

Possible. The access hole for the manual key release is located directly underneath the ignition switch on the bottom steering column cover right hand side. You'll see a cover about the size of a dime. Just carefully insert a small flat blade screwdriver and it will pop off. Insert a piece of wood like a golf tee or similar object and push in. Key should manually release.