What to Do When the Car Key Won't Come Out?
4 Answers
If the car key won't come out, you need to shift the gear to the P position before you can pull out the key. Here is some information about car keys: 1. Introduction: A key is a tool used to unlock something. 2. Function: A car key is a tool used to start and stop a car. Modern car keys use chips, which are part of a magnetic chip system. The ignition lock's reading coil reads the chip in the key; each chip has fixed digital information. 3. Advantages: Regardless of day or night, without needing to locate the keyhole, you can remotely and conveniently lock and unlock the car.
I was once frantic when my car key got stuck, only to realize that automatic transmission cars require shifting back to P (Park) position to remove the key—this is the transmission's interlock protection mechanism. Another time after parking, the key absolutely refused to come out, and I discovered the gear lever had accidentally been nudged to N (Neutral) during shutdown. Now when encountering similar situations, I first wiggle the gear lever to listen for the locking click, then check if the steering wheel is straightened. Some owners take shortcuts by shutting down directly in N gear, which over time may cause wear to the ignition switch's positioning pin. Occasionally, if sand particles enter the lock cylinder, a spray of WD-40 lubricant can easily resolve it.
Last week I was late dropping off my kid because of this issue! I remember hearing two clunking sounds when turning the steering wheel, and the mechanic said it was the steering wheel lock tongue getting stuck. Later I learned a trick: press the ignition switch with your left hand and rotate it halfway, while simultaneously turning the steering wheel left and right with your right hand, just like finding the angle to unlock a combination lock. The ignition lock cylinder in older cars is more prone to jamming due to wear, so it's necessary to regularly clean out the pencil-shaving-like metal dust inside the lock hole. Once I saw a neighbor forcefully pull it out with pliers, only to end up damaging all the key teeth.
In winter when the temperature drops below zero, the keyhole of my Tiguan has frozen before. The auto repair shop taught me to use a hairdryer on the low-heat setting to warm the lock cylinder, and emphasized not to pour hot water! For American cars, pay attention to the tooth profile differences in spare keys, as worn aftermarket keys can get stuck in the transponder chip sensing area. I've seen someone use a screwdriver to pry and deform the entire lock cylinder assembly, ultimately spending over 3,000 to replace the steering column assembly. Actually, most of the time, simply restarting the engine and then turning it off again, and hearing the dashboard beep to confirm power is cut, will resolve the issue.
