What Causes Difficulty in Removing the Car Key?
2 Answers
Car key difficulty in removal can be attributed to the following reasons: 1. P gear not properly engaged: When exiting the vehicle, the gear was not shifted to P or the P gear did not fully engage, possibly obstructed by an object, thus failing to trigger the electronic sensor. 2. Steering wheel locked: The steering wheel was not returned to its proper position when parking, causing an abnormal lock. The solution is to insert the key, attempt to turn the steering wheel left and right while twisting the key, which will release the steering wheel lock. 3. Obstruction in the key slot: The solution involves removing the obstruction, starting the car, shifting the gear again to ensure it is fully engaged, after which the key can be removed.
I've encountered many situations where the key couldn't be pulled out during car repairs, and the most common one is the steering wheel lock getting stuck. If the steering wheel isn't straightened after turning off the engine, the wheels will turn the steering wheel and automatically lock it, making the key stuck firmly. I often remind car owners not to pull hard when encountering this situation. Instead, hold the key, gently turn the steering wheel left and right while pulling it out, and listen for a click sound before releasing to pull it out. Another reason could be too much dust in the lock cylinder making it stiff. Spraying some WD-40 into the keyhole can lubricate it. For older cars, it might also be due to worn spring plates inside the lock cylinder, in which case the entire lock cylinder needs to be replaced.
