Problem! Please Help

Okay, so last night i went to the gas station. Pumped gas like usual then i went to go start my truck, and my key goes into the ignition...but wont turn at all. So obviously my first thought was to be sure it was in park, and that the steering wheel was not locked. Those were both good, but the key wouldnt turn still. I even tried to hit the brake while turning. After playing with it for about a hour or so I had my dad come and help/ take me to walmart and get a key made (I do realize that it isnt chipped, i was thinking that maybe I could at least turn the ignition to get it in nuetral and my wheels free). Well that key did the same thing. I only have one key for my truck. We ended up having to use our roadside assistance to get my truck towed about a mile and a half to my house. We got the truck in nuetral by the small button by the shifter.

My question is, has anyone ever had this problem?? Is it my key? Or my ignition like im thinking. Please help because im currently without a vehicle and I need to know if its a small fix, or if i should go ahead and go to the dealership.

Thanks for any responces!

--It is a 2006 sport dc

 

so did the key go in and not turn or not go in at all?

 

The key would go into the ignition and would come out just as easily, but it would not turn at all. We tried everything but we couldnt get it it turn.

 

battery?

 

Battery is completly fine. I have no problems with that. Forgot to mention i checked that too

 

sounds like an ignition problem to me. i dont see how a dead battery would stop a key from turning

 

Thats what I was thinking. Im just wanting to find out if theres some common problem and someone knows how to easily fix it.

 

Did you try the key once you got it in neutral?

Maybe its not the ignition at all, but the ignition thinks the car is not in park, when it is. Maybe there is a switch that has malfunctioned that is supposed to tell the car its in park.

 

..... are you sure it was your Tacoma.... I have set in someone elses before and tried starting it then something looked wierd lmao "true story"

 

Fuses but it would be odd to blow one but everything is possible. Check the fuse box under the hood drivers side. If the key just will not turn then move the steering wheel slightly.

If you have options check also the fuse box under the dash drivers side. There is two fuses there if blown would give you the same problem. If you had say a Ipod plugged in and somebody or something happened to the cord it could take out those small 15 amp fuses under the dash. If it's under the hood the fuse will be a much bigger sized one.

Best is a meter on continuity and take the fuses out one at a time and test for continuity. One at a time and if there good put them back in the correct spot one at a time. Don't mix anything up. There is a directory of what is what on both fuse boxes and in the book near the end of it.

 

also, do you have an alarm system on your truck? That happens to me if I dont lock it right. To remedy this, I open the door, lock all doors from the driver side, then unlock with key on the driver side.

 

My first thought would've been the locked steering wheel. Did you try turning the key while moving the steering wheel back and forth?
Only other thing I could think would be the ignition lock is dirty or stuck. Not sure if there might be some kind of cleaner you could use on that.

 

ya prolly ignition lock. Try pushing in that button on top of the shifter closest to the "parked" gear

 

found this online, give it a shot i guess


1 Make sure the transmission is in park (for cars with automatic transmissions).



2 Set the parking brake to prevent the car from rolling farther against the curb.


3 Pull hard on the steering wheel while turning it in both directions. If this doesn't free the wheel, move on to step 4.


4 Release the parking brake and put the transmission in neutral. Let up on the foot pedal just enough to rock the car slightly.


5 Turn the steering wheel again. The key should turn now.

 

Thanks for this! I will definatly give this a try when I get home from school! Never thought of it to be fuses, but its worth a shot.

 

My first thought as well... this has been discussed over and over on these forums. It happens with other Toyota models and even some other vehicle makes. Fairly common issue, super quick fix. Jiggle the steering wheel.

 

Its not the steering wheel lock, we tired moving it in every way possible. When the tow truck driver did come, he was pretty cool and he said he is also a mechanic and said that it is most likley your ignition. He gets a call more often then you'd think.

 

Let me get this straight, you can put the key in the ignition but the key will not turn, the only thing I come up with is it is a mechanical problem either with the key cylinder or the locking device in the steering wheel.

 

the lock barrel might also be shot. you do have an 06 so its already at least 5 years old, daily key turning for 5 years, multiple times a day will eventually cause failure

 

Ya thats the problem. Sorry if when I was explaining it was unclear. I was in a hurry because i was runing late for school. And makes sense to me, ill keep looking into it. Ill call the dealership and see what they say.