For a while, I have had to jiggle the key in the ignition cylinder at times to start my truck. Today, as I was getting ready to take the truck in for a recent oil leak, it won't even turn...there is a little play in the cylinder, but I cannot even start my damn truck.

Anyone have any recommendations? I have tried for 20 minutes to get it to turn, no luck. Guessing a mobile locksmith may be the only option? I have never even heard of this issue before.

Jason_Roofer said:

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I'm going to state the obvious so no offense but the wheel isn't turned or bound up right?

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Nope, no offense taken!

El Gallo Blanco said:

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For a while, I have had to jiggle the key in the ignition cylinder at times to start my truck. Today, as I was getting ready to take the truck in for a recent oil leak, it won't even turn...there is a little play in the cylinder, but I cannot even start my damn truck.

Anyone have any recommendations? I have tried for 20 minutes to get it to turn, no luck. Guessing a mobile locksmith may be the only option? I have never even heard of this issue before.

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Possibly another dumb suggestion. I have a worn out double sided Ford key that does this one side. Won't turn the ignition cylinder at all. Flip the key over and it works every time. Might be worth trying.

I had this happen on my 2000 Tundra when I was ready to leave work one afternoon.

Ended up watching a YouTube in my truck on how to remove that key/ignition cylinder and had to take it to a locksmith to get it repaired.

This happened to me with a 1998 car I had, and it ended up being the starter. Had to have the car towed. Bout all I can contribute other than being surprised a 2018 vehicle still had key ignition.

YouBet said:

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This happened to me with a 1998 car I had, and it ended up being the starter. Had to have the car towed. Bout all I can contribute other than being surprised a 2018 vehicle still had key ignition.

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Ha yeah my inlaws were blown away by that.

txyaloo said:

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El Gallo Blanco said:

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For a while, I have had to jiggle the key in the ignition cylinder at times to start my truck. Today, as I was getting ready to take the truck in for a recent oil leak, it won't even turn...there is a little play in the cylinder, but I cannot even start my damn truck.

Anyone have any recommendations? I have tried for 20 minutes to get it to turn, no luck. Guessing a mobile locksmith may be the only option? I have never even heard of this issue before.

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Possibly another dumb suggestion. I have a worn out double sided Ford key that does this one side. Won't turn the ignition cylinder at all. Flip the key over and it works every time. Might be worth trying.

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Yeah I am thinking this is almost certainly a problem with the cylinder. The first Ford key I used broke off about a year ago when I tried to force it a little when trying to turn. I honestly was surprised because I did not force it very hard and it just broke off in the cylinder and I had to pull it out. Even back then, I was having to give it a little wiggle to start the truck most of the time.

Long story short, this key should be too new to be having this problem, as I probably started using it within the past 12 months.

Got a locksmith coming out, just sucks...have dumped a lot of money on repairs for this truck in the past yr.

lock cylinders can fail sometimes. they get used a lot, naturally.

if it starts sticking, next time don't ignore it

You don't have a ton of stuff on your key ring, do you?

That can sometimes wear out a cylinder faster than normal.

TexAg1987 said:

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You don't have a ton of stuff on your key ring, do you?

That can sometimes wear out a cylinder faster than normal.

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I've never thought about it because it's not very bulky in appearance, but yes, I do have my wife's car key hooked to mine. It's not very big, but is dense. I'll separate the two going fwd bc that makes sense. Especially given how much I use my truck compared to most.

EDIT: repair man just said he thought that was the most likely culprit without me even mentioning it.

May try and spray some lock lube in to see if that can get things moving.

Preferably a dry teflon or something safe for ignitions.

TexAg1987 said:

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May try and spray some lock lube in to see if that can get things moving.

Preferably a dry teflon or something safe for ignitions.

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Thanks, repair man tried that, to no avail. But just got me up and running. Will be lightening my key chain going fwd….see my edit one post above.