Help! My key won't turn lock position!

GERONIMO911

MEMBER
MAZDA 626

Have a 95 mazda 626, key has been working fine, and car worked great this morning as usual when I went out, but went out later and key won't turn starter from locked position? What is wrong? Is there something I can do to get it out of lock? Steering wheel is locked? Tried shift lock. Read manual from front to back and can't find out what to do?
It is the correct key I am using. I do press on the brakes before starting. Shift handle will not go out of park. ? I am a female, and this is very puzzling, do I need to check something under the hood. This morning while driving, a indicator light did come on, "O/D is off", then I turned that off, too. But nothing, HELP!
Check engine light has been coming on periodically and going off right away, but? I have checked things under the hood, what do I know. Rose

2 Replies

BOOTDOG

MECHANIC
665 POSTS

Try wiggling the steering wheel and put the key in the ignition cylinder and wiggle both back and forth to try to make the cylinder unlock. It's possible the key is worn and/or the cylinder is worn.

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Saturday, May 19th, 2007 AT 4:24 PM

GERONIMO911

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I figured it out, thank God. Call a local garage mechanic place. He said sometimes if the wheels are not aligned straight, then the steering column locks, so I went out there and manually moved one front tire as much as I could, and it unlocked the steering wheel, and the key turned. Never had a car to do that before, have you? It was a weird thing to happen, but moving the tire worked! Thanks for your help, Rose