My wife just called and her " new" 06 with 17K wouldn't allow her to start the car. I recalled seeing something in the book and she was looking at it when she called, but no help there so I go here and do a search here of course. I see a lot of info she said she was parked straight so the wheel wasn't in a bind so while I was reading info here it said turn the wheel to the left and lo and behold key turned and car started.
I'm the very nervous type about crap like this, I see it's a known problem and has happened before but what is the consensus here, should I plan on the lock needing replaced or was this an isolated incident caused by a little pressure on the column or as I figure it is impossible to guess. I am pretty sure that she was parked on flat level ground and wheels were straight but I can't swear to that statement.

Opinions are welcome, I read a lot of good info on the subject here but I would like to get opinions about the future please if anyone wants to hazard a guess. Being such a noob about the car we've had it like 4 days, I would like to get any knowledge that I can.

Thanks all, you're the best in helping each other out.

Joe

 

It's not a very common occurrence that I'm aware of. The same thing happened to me in my Ford truck years ago and Ford's helpline instructed me to jerk the steering wheel right or left and that fixed the problem. It happened again a few times but has never been a serious issue.

 

If it is automatic, did she have it all the way in ParK?

 

This happened to me when I was out of town and it freaked me out. I just removed the key, re-inserted and it turned just fine. Then let out a big sigh of relief.

I don't know what caused it, and it hasn't happened since.

 

It is an auto and she said it was in park, my first question as well.

Joe

 

this is a common problem that gets worse. check the sticky key thread. there are two ways to fix it. You can replace the ignition or modify the existing one so that it can never happen again. I chose the latter. The down side of fixing it so that it can't happen again is that you will lose the steering lock. when you turn the key it pulls the pin out that locks the steering. If it can't pull the steeting lock pin the key will not turn. Elimitating the steering lock pin will fix the problem forever. I decided not to change the worn parts becuase I didn't want to deal with it in the future when they wore out again and they don't seem to last very long.

 

From What I Saw When I Pulled And Removed The Spring And Pin It Really Wasn't The Lock Pin For The Steering Wheel But The Spring And Pin Half Way Up The Lock Assembly. Sent Rekcha A Picture Of This Spring And Pin.

When The Above Spring And Pin Fails Then You Have To Cut Or Drill Pin For Steering Lock.

 

You are right. It has been while since I fixed mine. I just remember getting rid of the parts so it couldn't happen again. I used the how too that someone posted.

 

Joe, are you continuing to have that problem? Maybe it was a one time thing. When it happened to me, I turned the steering wheel to the left also at the same time I'm turning the key and it starts. I didn't put in in park all the way or not at all a couple of times, then I figured it out.

 

It only happened once last night. When she got off work this morning it was perfectly fine. Last night it just took a "left turn" to break it loose so to speak...
Thanks
Joe

 

Look for the stuck key thread and fix the problem yourself. It's not that hard to do. And if you take it to the dealer make sure you take a second out on your house to pay for it.