I was driving home from my weekly army reserve training and i went to go park my car and my ignition lock wouldnt engage basically making it so anyone who can brake a window can steal my car, its happened before so i jiggled it and the cover with the two prongs to "assist" you in turning the key popped off, the cylinder is now frozen wont budge at all, its currently midnight where i live so i cant go taking off my steering colum cover but any thoughts of what i can do to fix this so i can turn my car on and all that jazz without having to buy a new cylinder, which i cant afford i have to replace all of my front ball joints my idler arms and my tie rod ends plus labour and a wheel alignment, so im a bit stretched on cash

 

also noted, my key still gos in, the lock is just stuck and i dont know how to get it unstuck

 

Alot of times on older cars the ignition lock cylinder gets finicky, my first car did it several times, you had to turn the steering wheel to get it to engage and turn, you can also try lowering or raising it if its a tiltwheel, I had a spare set of keys cut, and the ignition key won't turn it unless I have the wheel as low as it will go, so try filddling with it a bit. And if you have another set of keys, try them too. Last but not least a new lock cylinder is only like $20, I wouldn't think it would cost much to install either.

 

This, I've had this happen to be, but it ended up just being the linkage on the shifter that would allow you to take the key out, we just played with it for a little but and it came back out.

 

My Grand Prix, after I broke the "good" key before getting a spare cut off of it, had to have the key inserted all of the way and then backed out about 1/16 of an inch before the lock would turn. I would say that, either way, it's probably time for either a new key or a new lock with key. Getting a key should cost about $3. Lock about $15 plus renting the tools to pull the wheel and the lock plate under it. Also, try some oil on the key to get the guts of the lock loosened up (I don't know if you can still get the special oil used the the lock that has a needle on it that puts the oil directly in there). Could maybe try some WD-40, I suppose (just don't push the button too hard).

 

Didn't think of lubricant, if you go that route use graphite.

 

i think i just busted the lock i got a new lock cylinder it also fixes the problem of i can remove my car whenever i feel like it from my ignition even if my car is running, i just need to wait until my dad gets home so i can get a ride to princess auto or mopac to get some new turn signal springs so my turn signal gos off after im done my turn without me having to put it off, and i need a few tools to actually get my steering wheel and column cover off