Key broken in ignition, car ran two and a half weeks, lost power, stuck in position 1 or 2

AMANDA MAE

MEMBER
2007 AUDI A6
4.2L
V8
TURBO
4WD
AUTOMATIC
123,500 MILES

This is a complex one. I am unfortunately an victim of domestic violence. My ex broke my key off in the ignition switch. I was able to get the key fragment out and I was able to use the push button start. My ex found my car unlocked which I accidentally left and put that fragmented piece of key back into the ignition switch to attempt to steal my car. I was able to put my key fob in with the key stub still attached and start the vehicle but the push button would not work anymore. And I could not get the car to go from position one or two back to position 0 off. So I drove my car 2 weeks approximately like this with the key stub on the fob and fragment inside the ignition and left the car in the ACC mode. The car would start and it ran and suddenly lost power while driving. Lost power steering lost power brakes coasted to the side of the road. Car still in the ACC or on position. But will not turn over now. So now I have a piece of key fragment inside the lock or the ignition. The car is stuck in ACC so I'm not even able to release the piece of fragmented key from the ignition. And a car will not turn over. What can I do to fix it how can I get my car to go from ACC back to the zero position off so I'm able to get the fragmented key out. I am so frazzled and I just don't know what to do, this man is ruined literally every part of my life in a matter of the month and a half. He's in jail and I'm stressed please help. I am so poor from this nightmare, staying in hotels to hide, and him stealing $10,000.00 from me and mooching off my income alone since August and really cant replace the ignition right now. PS: I do believe there's a possibility that my battery maybe low I am going to get it checked today. I have jumped it multiple times but I have a feeling that the battery isn't supplying enough power to turn over the car. Is that a possibility is that why I can't get it from ACC back to off position? Thank you guys just a girl trying to get her life back together.

6 Replies

AMANDA MAE

MEMBER
6 POSTS

This is the car attempting to turn over.

Video (Click to make bigger)

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Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 AT 2:42 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

I am so sorry to hear about that. Clearly the car is secondary to getting control of the situation.

However, the fact that the vehicle is cranking but not starting is a good sign. That gets us past the security key issues.

At this point the vehicle needs three things to start, fuel, ignition at the correct time, and compression. It sounds like it has compression when cranking so we need to check for spark and fuel.

Fuel is the easiest thing to do by just spraying some starting fluid in the intake. Then spark we will need to remove a spark plug and reconnect it to the ignition and hold it against the block while cranking the engine to see if there is a spark

Before you do any of this we need to do something due to this situation. I want you to lift the hood and look for any think that looks out of place. Clearly we need to see if there is anything unhooked, cut, or disconnected. If you want to send me pictures of the areas of the engine bay specifically any wiring that doesn't look right to you. Unfortunately, it sounds like this guy is not above sabotaging this vehicle. Clearly if the vehicle has operated properly since his incarceration then this may not be the issue.

At that point, we will also need to check for codes. Please let me know if you are not able to perform any of this and we will see if we can come up with another way.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start