Key won't turn

As the title says, however the battery is dead and won't hold charges. Does the ignition need to see voltages before it can turn? I always thought it was mechanical in a way... It won't move at all, not to run, or acc, or start. ZILCH

Before dumb questions arise, yes the steering wheel freely moves back and forth as I turn the key, and it's in park...

Never had this issue ever, however never had a completely dead battery in the frozen tundra we are all experiencing.

Thanks

 

My key wouldn't turn but my steering wheel would freely move (as much as I could with the truck off).

My battery was fine though.

Turned out to be a worn out ignition lock cylinder.

Had to get a whole new tumbler, etc and get it re-keyed. (didn't want two keys, one for the ignition, one for the door locks)

 

Spring for a new key.

 

Supra TT

Here was my ordeal: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/211816-stranded-ignition-cylinder-seems-jacked.html

 

X2 on ign lock cylinder. The tumblers get worn out after sometime.

 

I've never heard of an electrical lock-out.

I'd look at how worn the teeth on the key is. I've been warned by some long-time toyota owners to tuck away a spare because the cylinders don't like worn teeth. If the teeth look good, as Madjik_Man pointed out, I'd go to the cylinder as the next highest possible cause.

Might also be beneficial to borrow a battery from a buddy.

(I said that just to get the alliteration in.)

 

I'm a locksmith, and see this quite a bit. I'd guess the key is worn more than the wafers. What year is the taco?

 

And just FWIW

My old key worked in the door locks just fine when it wouldn't turn the ignition cylinder.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^
This

We have seen this quite a few times. A key is cheap first step.
You need to have it cut by code at the dealer though, not by tracing.

 

x2

 

You'd also be amazed at what some wd-40 can do. Or tri flow.

 

Yea I've never tried tri flow. Either WD40 or PB Blaster are 2 of the greatest things known to man.

 

Guess I will try my spare tomorrow. I was able to get it to start yesterday after hundreds of attempts, it finally went through. The truck is a 2000, original key from what I can tell. Spare key it is.... I'll report back tomorrow.

 

Yep. I had this problem with my '99 too. It was real fun when the alarm would start to sound 15 seconds after the door opened.
Jiggling the key up & down would get it to turn (but not always).
Most of the time it worked just fine.

 

Since it does turn, my bets on a worn key. If the spare works first try, get it copied quick. The keys will wear quicker than the cylinder, since they have springs holding them in place and they end up rubbing the key each time you use it. 13 years is a good life on the original.

 

Replace and rekey a new ign switch. A new key will only buy you a little time. Remove the panel over the switch, push button on the side of the tumbler, turn key, pull switch out. Reverse for install. The IGN can be operated without the switch installed, if you wanted to drive it to the locksmith/dealer.

 

Except he wont be able to push the button to release the the ign lock cylinder. In order to release the cylinder, you have to be able to turn key to ACC position. You will have to smash the button with a punch until it breaks through and releases.

Just like i had to do... in a parking lot... 30 mins from home... with dirty mike and the boys wanting to have an orgy in my truck

 

folk may prematurely damage the tumblers in their ign. cylinder
by having too many keys dangling from their key fob.

I recommend using a single key in the ign.
or use a take apart key fob that removes the added weight
and leverage of extra keys dangling.

I use a single key and have done so for 13 years on muh junk.
likewise with most of my prior/current vehicles.

my learning comes from my personal experience
when I was young and driving/owning my first car.
Back then I didn't know much.

a fubar'd ign. lock cylinder changed my assessment of the matter
and I removed the unnecessary weight from the key fob,
and have never had ign. cyl. issues since.

 

Worn out key... Tried my spare and worked every single time like it was new again. Thanks guys

 

Sometimes the simple things .... Good for you...