Ignition switch acting up

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by jb92563

I went out to start the car yesterday (2001 S) and I slipped the key into the ignition as usual but the key would not turn the ignition to the start/run position.

It was like the car did not recognize the key,

It unlocked the doors just fine so I don't think it is the key battery.

After several re insertions it eventually worked but I wonder what could be causing this?

Anyone else have this happen? What causes this?

Should I spray some WD40 into the ignition to lube things?

Funny coincidence was that I was in a hurry to get out of there since there was a brush fire less than a quarter mile away and I was directly downwind.

Perhaps due to my stress level being a little elevated with the urgent need to escape from the fire, I was not doing something right?

This has happened to me when I did not have the steering wheel perfectly straight. I parked, left the wheel turned, left, came back and the key would not turn. Googled it think I posted it here too, took awhile but after research realized I had to pull HARD on wheel while turning key to get it to unlock


Now I am VERY careful to keep wheel straight when parking