HELP! cant turn key in ignition!!

[nodrog321]

after cleaning/washing my car, i tried to start it up and this is what happened:

http://s238.photobucket.com/albums/f...t=IMG_1415.mp4

what to dooooo?!

[gbstylez87]

Turn your steering wheel to the left or right (not sure which one) while turning the key.

[nodrog321]

yea.. i just found out about that. LOL. i feel so dumb. what is that even for?!

[stn0091]

^What he said. It's a security/safety thing.

[gbstylez87]

Its a security feature on the Accord. So for example if someone hot wires your car, I believe the steering wheel will stay locked. Not sure how you can set it though. It always happens to me randomly lol

[georgiamadman]

Sorry its not a security/safety thing the steering wheel locking pin will just bind up when you turn off the car with your hand holding the steering wheel turned. What happens is wile the engine is running the power steering carries the load of holding the tires turned but once you shut it off the steering unloads and tries to relax but the locking pin has already set in place putting the steering load on the locking pin jamming the ignition switch.

To prevent from this from happening just take both hands off the steering wheel before turning off the ignition switch.

[NickkxO]

lol gordon

[03LXV6]

Originally Posted by georgiamadman

Sorry its not a security/safety thing the steering wheel locking pin will just bind up when you turn off the car with your hand holding the steering wheel turned. What happens is wile the engine is running the power steering carries the load of holding the tires turned but once you shut it off the steering unloads and tries to relax but the locking pin has already set in place putting the steering load on the locking pin jamming the ignition switch.

To prevent from this from happening just take both hands off the steering wheel before turning off the ignition switch.

It is a security feature. It prevents the car from been driven without the key in the ignition. I remote start my car all the time and turn the wheel and it doesn't turn. Likewise I can turn the wheel if I have the car off but the ignition on.

[BLCKFLSH]

This will happen with most cars/trucks. It happened to me on my Chevy truck. When you were cleaning the inside of the car, you probably grabbed the steering wheel, turning it until it locked to one side. Then you had to turn the steering wheel more to the same side, to relieve the tension. I imagine it happens to a lot of people.

[georgiamadman]

Originally Posted by 03LXV6

It is a security feature. It prevents the car from been driven without the key in the ignition. I remote start my car all the time and turn the wheel and it doesn't turn. Likewise I can turn the wheel if I have the car off but the ignition on.

OK let me make it a bit clearer. Yes the locking steering column is a security feature it prevents theft by locking the steering wheel and preventing it form being used with out a key being present and turned to the run position. But what I was trying to state is that the residual steering force jamming up the locking pin and switch is not a security feature it is an unfortunate event that happens when a lateral force is applied to the pin preventing its retraction and there fore the rotation of the lock cylinder and key.

[bnikanor]

isn't this feature already exist from a long long time ago?
remember that my very old 83 corolla already had this feature

[georgiamadman]

Yes, Its been around since the late 60's.

[jeffislouie]

Ha! I hate it when this happens!
A quick jiggle of the wheel releases the ignition. It's a useless safety feature that got baked into every car after some nanny-state safety genius lobbied for it. Because if there is one thing that saves my tush every time I jump in my car, it's that I might be able to start it without having to jiggle the steering wheel. ;-) I'm amazed that in the age of cell phones that are more powerful than the computers that launched the first men into space, we are still relying on a series of pins to keep someone from stealing a car without the key (by the way, car thiefs just break the pins, rendering them useless anyway).

[BLCKFLSH]

It certainly hasn't prevented the Accord from being one of the most stolen cars.