What Causes a Car Key to Not Turn?

[VonBrianna]

If your car key won't turn, it might be due to the steering wheel being locked - a common anti-theft feature in vehicles. Never force the key in this situation. The solution is to gently turn the key with your right hand while simultaneously turning the steering wheel with your left hand, which will automatically release the lock and allow the car to start smoothly. This locking mechanism activates when the car is parked, turned off, and the key is removed. If you slightly turn the steering wheel to a certain angle at this point, you'll hear a click sound indicating the steering wheel is locked and can't be turned left or right, serving as an anti-theft measure. This is completely normal. During winter mornings, sometimes the door key may not rotate. This typically occurs when residual water from car washing enters the keyhole. When inserting the key, the locking mechanism inside fails to disengage, preventing the key from turning. In such cases, use your remote key fob to unlock the doors or try warming up the lock to open it.