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Key Won't Turn Past Position 1

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108K views 47 replies 36 participants last post by  mrsperrin  
#1 ·
Hey all, my girlfriend's car has had no issues with the key switch since she's owned it, but last night it suddenly stopped working. The key goes in fine and you can turn to position 1, but no amount of wiggling and force will turn it to position 2.

I've tried oiling the key, spraying WD40 in the keyhole, resetting the alarm with the 5 lock/unlocks using the key. I dismantled my R's ignition (as a guinea pig) and was playing with the key tumbler and it works flawlessly with the ignition switch removed - her S60 still binds when I try the same thing... the ignition switch itself can be turned to position 2, so the problem is definitely in the lock itself.

I'm out of ideas on this one. We called a locksmith and the Volvo dealership and they couldn't offer any recommendations past oiling the key and wiggling it. They said the tumblers in the locks shouldn't go bad instantly, but they could wear out over time (which was not our case). Any help is appreciated...
 
#3 ·
Did u try wiggling the steering wheel and turning the key at the same time. Many friends of mine have ran into this problem before.
 
#10 ·
sounds like the transmission shift lock solenoid may be stuck. it typically happens if people spill some kind of beverage over their gear shifter. if the car doesn't have a manual override button, you should be able to disassemble the driver side panel of the center console and release the lock with your finger or a pen/pencil. it's like a little plastic tab that will cause a spring to release... you'll hear a slight *tick* sound

happened to me when a family member "borrowed" my car and had spilled something in that area. i removed the center console, cleaned up the spring, sprayed a little bit of wd40, and everything went well thereafter.
 
#11 ·
I had this problem with my S80. The key would rotate just fine up to position II, then stopped dead. I was afraid to push it any harder, but the general tide of advice on the net said to force it - so I got the valet key (more leverage), lubed it up and gave it a solid twist. It worked, and the lock cylinder has been fine ever since. Keeping my fingers crossed this doesn't crop up again!
 
#13 ·
My 2009 S60 with 50,000 miles had the exact same thing happen. Couldn't get the key past postion 1. Obviously a problem with the ignition cylinder and not anything electrical. I tried lubing the key with lock-eze with no luck. I removed the lower panel of the steering column (step one of tagger's instructions above) and lightly tapped on the steel ignition switch and lock cylinder with a hammer. Success. I live 120 miles from the nearest dealership and was not too keen on having the car towed that distance to have the warranty work done. I do plan on having the cylinder replaced the next time I'm at the dealer, however.
 
#14 ·
The same problem was happening to me with my car. I wound up, after fighting with the lock for 20 min in a parking lot, to get it home, where I sprayed WD-40 into the cylinder and cycled the key. Kinda a bad idea, the lock got really hot, but a bunch of black **** came out onto the key, and ever since then the car has been ok.
 
#16 ·
To the next person who finds this post after suffering the same problem: #1: FORCE IT! Common problem and you will feel that if you put more pressure on the key something will break. Had it happen, asked in the V70 forum where others gave me the same advice. #2, no WD-40. Buy powdered graphite. Keep putting it on the key and getting it in there and turning past II and back over and over. #3, as Cjones16 stated, heavy keychains hurry the failure along. Travel light, my friend.
 
#23 ·
If the key won't turn at all, you won't be able to pull the shifter line out. You must turn the key to position 1 in order to release the shifter line, which makes sense from an anti-theft standpoint. I just found this out working on my 2009 S60. Tagger's procedure above worked PERFECTLY, except that at first I didn't have the key in position 1 and the shifter line would not release all the way. It would pull out a half an inch or so, but then stopped cold. Easily removed when I turned the key to position 1. Thanks again to Tagger for saving me a tow truck fee!
 
#24 ·
Wake up, thread ! Just want to say how grateful I am to you guys because this just happened to my XC70 ... THANKS, you are a terrific inspiration for the theme "never give up".
Like you, this suddenly happened with absolutely no warning and for a while I thought it was just the transmission interlocks gone out of sequence or something... then went through all the phases you did like disconnecting the battery... then with a sinking heart realised it was the ignition lock, so after plenty of wiggling steering wheel, WD40 in lock, etc etc, starting looking for the price of a new lock. Heart sunk a little lower seeing the cost! And THEN came across this forum which is fantastic. Discovered the "unrepairable" can be repaired, heart rose back to normal, got out the tools. Also found a beautiful video on Youtube by a locksmith on how to strip this very lock right down to the tumblers (involves some intricate but feasible drilling and dismounting sequences). By that time it was getting late so WD40 was copiously sprayed in and lock was set aside until next morning. By the way all this happened right in my yard on a Saturday, which I thought was very obliging on the XC70's part... what I was actually up to, was changing the glowplugs (another heart sinker, when they break off leaving a stub inside the cyl head but that's another story).
Anyway, next morning, started marking out the lock cylinder for drilling and extraction as per Youtube video, then inserted key to make sure things were lined up. Lo and behold, it suddenly freed up and WORKED without any drilling or further disassembly ! Several trials in various positions showed a tendency to get stuck again sporadically, but after more WD40 and turning the key again and again, it was fine. Popped it all back in and it's been fine ever since. Total cost of repair : just some WD40.

Without your help guys especially Tagger and Blinky I wouldn't have even imagined this was possible. Just one thing, if you look at a thread like this and stop at post n° 17 which says "Ignition Cylinder = yer screwed" you won't go any further than your Volvo dealer with a large roll of $$$$. So skip these "can't be done" people...
 
#25 ·
Wow - great thread. My 2000, s80t6 key wouldn't turn past 1 today. I eventually forced it (in fear that i was breaking the key). I then drove it home, read this thread and put some graphite powder on the key. Inserted it a few times, more graphite, then started it several times. Now, it seems to work perfectly - no need to replace parts. Thanks Gents!
 
#26 ·
I ran errands all day, stopped home and jumped back in the car to pick up the kids from school Key would not pass position 1.
Removed the lower steering column cover, hit the cylinder a few times with a hammer, and forced to position 2. No problem!
Working, but needs graphite to smooth it out.
Thanks to all above for the help!
 
#30 ·
Man, I must be the only one to keep the entire gambit of lubes and a comprehensive toolkit in my Volvo. Had this happen, used electrical contact cleaner followed by powdered graphite to clear it up.

Oddly, I changed the wheel bearings in a 240 outside a wal mart at night after a long ride...

And put a clutch into my brother's pickup outside an auto zone 160 miles from our house.

... Maybe I carry too many tools.
 
#34 ·
Man, I must be the only one to keep the entire gambit of lubes and a comprehensive toolkit in my Volvo. Had this happen, used electrical contact cleaner followed by powdered graphite to clear it up.

Oddly, I changed the wheel bearings in a 240 outside a wal mart at night after a long ride...
And put a clutch into my brother's pickup outside an auto zone 160 miles from our house.

... Maybe I carry too many tools.
Lol can't have to many tools or to much lube�� in the trunk
 
#36 ·
Just had to fix this problem on Friday, and I will be carrying around that little tube of graphite powder for a long time. It was $2 at WallyWorld and I couldn't be happier. Totally agree that you'll end up turning the key a lot harder than you think you should... but it paid off for me. Hopefully others have the same success!
 
#32 · (Edited)
This just happened to me! just out of the blue ! No warning or stiff key before this lock up. Thanks all for this thread !! It worked !! Took off the ignition from bottom of tumbler , test to see if ignition turns and return spring is working �� perfect , now we know the problem is with the tumbler ,put key in after a few squirts of lock ease, slowly turn key while gently tapping on lock cylinder with hammer , do this back and forth all the way till it starts to loosen up , a few more squirts of graphite lube, a little more tapping with hammer and working back and forth, it works !!! Reassemble good to go , total time 30 mins ( could do it in 15 min next time)
Thanks to all for the posts on this , let's hope it last a long time . I would do this 10 times before spending hundreds on replacing tumbler, sooooo easy!!
 
#33 · (Edited)
This just happened to me! just out of the blue ! No warning or stiff key before this lock up. Thanks all for this thread !! It worked !! Took off the ignition from bottom of tumbler , test to see if ignition turns and return spring is working �� perfect , now we know the problem is with the tumbler ,put key in after a few squirts of lock ease, slowly turn key while gently tapping on lock cylinder with hammer , do this back and forth all the way till it starts to loosen up , a few more squirts of graphite lube, a little more tapping with hammer and working back and forth, it works !!! Reassemble good to go , total time 30 mins ( could do it in 15 min next time)
Thanks to all for the posts on this , let's hope it last a long time . I would do this 10 times before spending hundreds on replacing tumbler, sooooo easy!!
 
#37 ·
Lots of double posts today. Every time I post I get a "pass by reference error". Makes me feel like the Swedespeed compiler is yelling at me.