Until the day you put the key in the ignition and it gets stuck, your Toyota Corolla normally runs like a dream. The key simply won’t budge no matter how much you twist and jimmy it. You know you can’t keep your automobile in this condition, but you’re also unsure of what to do. How is the key removed from the ignition?
Although it varies from model to model, the following steps should help you remove your key from the ignition of your Toyota Corolla:
- Make sure you are in park.
- Verify that nothing is blocking the steering column’s locking.
- Check to see whether the key comes out by cutting off the electricity to the solenoid.
- Check to see whether your car’s battery has died.
- Test the ignition lock cylinder and the lock mechanism.
- Get a tow.
- Visit a mechanic with your vehicle.
In This Article...
Make Sure You’re in Park (parking mode)
Are you sure you’re in park? I know that sounds dumb and very, very common sense. If so, the automatic transmission in your car probably won’t let the key out unless you put it in park mode. This is due to a safety feature called the shift interlock.
Wriggle Your Steering Wheel to Get the Locking Steering Column to Release the Key
Most cars have a locking steering column as an option. Once you take the key out of the ignition, it will lock up. That is intended to deter car thieves. If the locking steering column malfunctions, excessive pressure is applied to the ignition switch, which keeps the key in the Corolla locked.
You can get your key while your vehicle is in parking mode by turning the steering wheel.
Disconnect the Power to the Solenoid
Don’t worry if the aforementioned suggestions haven’t worked thus far. Sam Carmel, the proprietor of Corolla, claims in a “>YouTube video that the starter solenoid found in Corolla vehicles may hold the key (no pun intended) to resolving your problems. This solenoid activates the starter motor of the car by acting as an electromagnet. Two lengthy cables from the starter solenoid connect to the starter motor.
By cutting the wires, you should be able to turn off the solenoid. In the 2010 Corolla, at least, where Carmel focused for his film, the solenoid is located behind the steering wheel. He claims that modifying the solenoid is secure. Hopefully, that will produce the key.
Test Your Car Battery Life
Your Corolla can’t operate without power if the entire interior, including the ignition, is electronic. That usually means that if your automobile battery dies, your key could become seized. There are two clear signs that the problem is with the battery. Do you first notice any inside lights? Can you also start the car?
If the response to either of those two queries was no, your battery has likely died. If you’re not at home, you’ll need to acquire a jump. In order to avoid getting into another awkward situation, make sure you monitor your car battery in the future.
Confirm Your Ignition Lock Cylinder Is Properly Working
A device known as an ignition lock cylinder is found in many vehicles. This is arranged in a row with many pins. When you insert the key into the ignition, a spring inside each of these pins can be released, holding the key in place.
These pins are far from flawless, much like every component of a car. Your key won’t come out of the ignition if there is misalignment or if any of the pin springs become stuck and unable to retract. Smack your ignition lock cylinder with a small hammer, but do so very carefully. After all, you don’t want to damage it. With any luck, a few solid blows will get everything going. If not, a new ignition lock cylinder is probably in order.
A clean ignition lock mechanism is also important. You might have trouble getting your key in or out smoothly due to gunk and particles.
Call a Tow/See a Mechanic
In the worst-case scenario, you might need to call a tow truck to have your car towed and yourself sent home (or work or wherever you were going). If you tried all of the aforementioned fixes and they had no effect, then that is. Most likely, there are deeper issues at play than you can address on your own. Allow a mechanic to handle it.
Why am I unable to take my key out of the ignition?
Most often, a broken or worn-out vehicle key or faulty ignition wafers are to blame for a car key that is stuck in the ignition and won’t come out.
The following are the three most frequent causes of stuck car keys:
- broken car key Car keys can get broken, worn out, and bent, which makes them stuck.
- Broken Wafers
- The wafers that make up your car’s ignition can bend or break, which results in a jammed key.
- Driving Wheel Lock
- The ignition may lock simultaneously with the steering wheel lock if the steering wheel lock malfunctions.
My Toyota key won’t eject; why?
Depending on the circumstance, you may be able to remove your car key from the ignition. Is this the first time that it has been delayed? Does the ignition keep locking the key inside? Did you already make an attempt to remove the key but fail and break it? Here are the appropriate actions for each scenario.
Set Parking Gear
Your car’s parking gear may not be set, which is the most frequent cause of key difficulty. Verify that your shifter is in the neutral position in a manual transmission or that your gear selector is in the “P” or “Park” position in an automatic transmission.
Jiggle Steering Wheel
If the gear is adjusted correctly and the key still won’t turn, try carefully rocking the steering wheel back and forth while pulling the key out with a gentle tug. When the steering column locks, which is a security and anti-theft function in the majority of cars, it can occasionally put more pressure on the ignition lock mechanism and keep the key from turning. The pressure on the lock is released by slightly turning the steering wheel, and the key should slide out.
Key KEEPS Getting Stuck in the Ignition
Here are a few things to try if you’ve found that it’s become a little bit trickier to insert and remove your key from the ignition over time or if the key keeps getting stuck in the ignition.
WD-40 Spray
A little WD-40 sprayed into the ignition lock might help. The can ought to include a skinny straw that fitsalmost fitsbetween your key and the ignition lock. This extra lubricant may occasionally be sufficient to enable the key to be extracted by gently wiggling it. Once the key is extracted, check it for damage or any indication that it may have been bent. You should have the key changed if that is the case.
Rubbing Alcohol / Adhesive Remover
If the key is undamaged but you see some dirt or grime on it, wipe it carefully with either rubbing alcohol or an adhesive remover (such as Goo Gone).
You might have an issue with the ignition lock if using WD-40 to remove the key doesn’t work and you’ve already tried the two solutions in the section above. A new ignition lock cylinder might be in your future; you should check with a locksmith or technician to be sure.
Key Broke Off in the Ignition
Hopefully, you haven’t experienced this, but if you have, you’re not the first. This typically occurs when a too forceful attempt is made to release a trapped key. What you can do is as follows.
NOTE:Avoid attempting to extract the lower half of the key by re-inserting the broken top half. All you’ll accomplish is making it more challenging for you to remove the broken-off part by pushing it deeper into the lock.
Key Extractor
The broken key can be extracted using a key extraction device. A professional locksmith would frequently use this, and it is typically considerably less expensive than phoning one. There are a few different kinds, but this one works best for extracting a broken-off key from a lock (any type of lock).
Jigsaw Blade
A jigsaw blade can frequently fit just next to the key within the ignition route due to its thinness. Once the blade is inserted, turn it just enough for the notches to latch onto the broken key, and then carefully draw it out.
Tweezers / Needle Nose Pliers
Tweezers or needle nose pliers are a simple solution to get the key out of the ignition if any part of it is still sticking out. However, these tools are probably too thick to be very helpful if the damaged key is totally inside the ignition lock.
Why is the key in my ignition stuck?
We’ve worked on enough ignitions to be aware of potential problems. Among the most typical issues are:
- The steering wheel lock is one of the most likely causes of a stuck ignition key. The steering wheel may lock when a car is in park. This is fantastic for preventing theft, but it also stops the key from turning or being taken out of the ignition switch. Sometimes the issue is not with the ignition or the car. It can be a key that has become worn or broken and been stuck in the ignition switch. Pulling or yanking on the key may make it more difficult to remove and may seriously harm the ignition.
- Before beginning an ignition repair on your automobile, double-check that you’re using the right key for the right vehicle and check the key for any damage. We’re not calling you stupidwe’d never do that! Continue reading if you’re positive that the ignition is the source of the issue.
How can I remove my car’s keys?
The usage of fancy key fobs, touchpads, and remote-unlock sensors in some more recent vehicles virtually ensures that you won’t get locked out. But what about the millions of poor souls who still manually lock and unlock their vehicles? Will they always be bothered by automobile windows that are shattered and prybars?
It is entirely possible to get your keys out of a locked car with a little patience, experience, and even more patience, and you probably won’t need to go to an auto body shop nearby to have your window fixed afterward. Here are some pointers for entering your locked automobile safely. (Bad people shouldn’t read any farther.)
How can I remove my Toyota Camry’s key?
Try pressing the brake pedal and shifting between park and neutral while moving the gear shift lever. steering wheel movement is also somewhat made. All of this should be done while turning and pulling the ignition key.
My key is jammed in the ignition, why won’t my car start?
As perplexing as having a stuck automobile key in the ignition are some issues. If you can’t get your automobile key out of the ignition, you’re probably wondering why.
It is always simplest to address the most frequent cause. The most frequent causes are a locked steering wheel, a car that is not in park, or a car computer that believes the key is still in the ON position when it is actually off. Other causes include key debris, a broken lock cylinder, a worn-out key, a dead battery, or the incorrect key being stuck in the ignition.
Car not in park position: Safety features are included into every vehicle. The automobile key won’t eject if your automatic transmission isn’t in the park position, for instance. Similar to automatic transmissions, manual transmissions require putting the gear lever in neutral before removing the key. You ought to be aware of this by now if you own a car with a manual or automatic transmission.
On older cars, it’s possible that the rubber or plastic shifter track has risen. The sidewall may be covered in mud or debris, making it difficult for the shifter to reach the park position.
The majority of vehicles that accept normal keys include an accessory slot as well. One click after the off mode switches to the accessory mode. It enables the use of several automotive features without requiring the driver to start the engine. The power lock window and radio are some of these features.
Probably due to your hurry, you didn’t realize you had the key in accessory mode. Next time you can’t get your key out, try starting the car and turning the ignition all the way to the off position.
Another vehicle safety measure, a locked steering wheel, may be triggered by a car key that is still in the ignition but does not operate the lock. When you turn the key in the ignition or apply some force to the steering wheel, this feature automatically activates.
Cars come with wheel locks to keep the steering wheel from turning when the key is not in the ignition. Unfortunately, it occasionally engages with the key in the ignition.
The ignition lock cylinder of an automobile eventually fails, just like the majority of its electrical and mechanical parts. But what if the automobile key cannot be inserted and it malfunctions? The key will be stuck in any position that it was in prior to the ignition cylinder failing, including the ON position.
Reducing the amount of items on your key holder is one approach to make sure your ignition cylinder lasts a long time. There are several items on the keyring that will make them wobble back and forth, increasing the likelihood of aging and early wear. The key getting trapped in the ignition due to aging and early wear might potentially prevent the automobile from starting or turning off.
Car keys are sensitive to any kind of flaw, including debris on the key. A car key with dirt or debris on it may not be able to turn the ignition on or off.
The majority of us frequently use our car keys as a penknife. To scratch objects, open mail or boxes, dig items out, to mention a few. These actions all have the potential to leave residue on the automobile key.
Dead battery: The ignition system of an automobile is powered by electricity. You could be unable to acquire the key if your car battery is dead. A persistent clicking sound when you try to start the car is a good sign that the key is stuck in the ignition because the battery is dead.
The ignition key cannot be removed if the battery is dead, however this rarely happens. If the ignition repeatedly clicks, there is usually a dead battery or corroded battery contacts to blame. It might also be the result of a starter motor that is broken.
Worn-out ignition key: The final possibility is that your key is broken or worn-out. As was already mentioned, many of us utilize our car keys for a few purposes other than starting the vehicle. These will speed up the key’s accelerated wear. Car keys are created especially for locking, opening, and starting the car. Don’t use your car keys for anything else.