Ignition Key Won't Turn.

Might call a locksmith or two.
It might be worth gambling on paying their service call fee.......versus the cost to tow it to a dealer.

I have seen a few cars over the years where the steering interlock is VERY tight under the right circumstances.

Good luck.

 

Unlikely why?

You could have a key cut at any hardware store, and you could even try having a non-chipped key cut just to see if it would turn. But having a new key cut from your old worn key would kind of just give you a new worn key. Toyota should be able to look up your VIN and cut you a new new key. If that solves the problem it could save you the bother of replacing a bunch of lock cylinders.

-Chap

 

I have the same proplem with my one 2001 prius, I have to very gently move the steering wheel back and forth (not violently) and gently turning the key, this occurred after the steering gear box was replaced at the dealer under warrenty. Sounds like you may have tried that?

Roy from Canada

 

In the 1970's and 1980's , I worked on a lot of steering columns.

You have to remove the steering wheel with a puller and a "lock plate" puller for the steering column lock.

There is a tab that retains the lock cylinder.

On most Japanese cars, the whole lock assembly is retained by two "one way" M8 bolts. If you remove the steering column cover, you can take them off by drilling out the center of the screws and using a broken screw extractor.

The electrical start-run ignition switch is retained usually by one screw. Remove and unplug it as well as the key buzzer switch.

The key cylinder must be turned to release it from the socket. Drilling it out is what the locksmith will do. He or she will get a new cylinder and use the correct "wafers" to match you original key.

I'd remove the assembly and take it to a locksmith. The last one I had done was 30 years, ago, in Maryland. It cost me $30.

 

For the Prius classic, it may also require a wiggle of the shift lever to allow the steering wheel to move enough to allow the key to turn in the cylinder.

Hope springs eternal...

 

Way to go...

Sounded like the best option.

 

Would you share with us the cost for that service.......just for curiosity ?

 

Man....
You can go broke keeping those Priuses on the road!

 

Here's where a little knowledge and a little exploratory work could have saves you $200 plus and the heartache of having your car damaged and having it needing additional repairs.

Basically, only the lock cylinder had to be replaced and rekeyed. Disassembled and brought in to the locksmith, it would most likely have cost $75-$100; that's all.

The uninformed always pays through the nose.

If my working days, I NEVER mad a lot of money. I just spent and allocated wisely.

And, unfortunately, it's usually those who can afford it the least who have to "pay through the nose."

 

The other side of that coin is:
Those who can't properly assess their own capabilities often pay through the nose TWICE as bad.

It is great that YOU have the expertise to do things like that yourself but a LOT of people don't and probably would end up with the car out of service even longer and paying even more for the damage they caused.

 

Not condescending. Just the facts on how to approach it at the least possible cost.

Picking it or drilling it is how the locksmith does it.

Done many of them.

If you don't like the answers. Don't ask them. You have been placed on my "ignore" or "unfriend" list.

 

Please sir, can I be placed there too?

-Chap

 

Under the steering wheel there is an adjustment lever to adjust the position of the steering wheel. Pull the lever and adjust the steering wheel to the lowest position. Like magic your key will turn

 

This thread is a little old but it's still at the top of search results for "prius key won't turn" and similar. I tried everything suggested in here and still struggled, so I started digging in to find the problem. Eventually I got the lock cylinder out of its housing, and found one of the tumblers was sticking out. Then when I looked closer, I found that it wasn't "a" tumbler - but two half-tumblers. This gave me the hint I needed to search around on the problem, and I found a page describing my problem perfectly, though I can't post the link in here because this forum doesn't allow that for new users.

The short version is: take the lock cylinder out, find the split tumblers, remove them, and throw them away.

Explanation: Toyota came up with the "brilliant" idea of making their locks more pick-resistant by inventing these "split tumblers". They are more fragile than traditional tumblers, so even a tiny bit of wear can cause them to drop out of alignment. Just pull them and throw them away, and put the lock back together. This only affects 2 of the teeth on the key, so it's not like you're losing any practical level of security. Thieves don't pick locks anyway, they'll just force it or drill it or take it apart if given the opportunity.