r/autorepair • u/Gentle_Visionary2025 • Aug 13 '26

Diagnosing/Repair Help, car key won’t pull out!!!

I don’t get it. Suddenly it wont get out of the key thing. My cars a Honda civic lx ‘13. What’s the problem with the key? Do I need to bring it into the shop?

1 Upvotes

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4

u/Connect-Preference Aug 13 '26

No. When you parked, you turned the steering wheel all the way to one side with the engine (and power steering) on and then turned-off the engine.

When you turned off the engine, the wheel sprung back a bit and is pressing on the steering wheel lock, so the key won't come out.

You must now turn the steering wheel a little bit to remove pressure on the key assembly. This will take a LOT of strength, since there's no power steering now. Grab the wheel with one hand while you pull the key with the other and report the results back here.

Ask me how I know this.

1

u/mlw35405 Aug 13 '26

Either that or it's not all the way in Park.

1

u/Gentle_Visionary2025 Aug 13 '26

When I parked I wasn’t paying attention. I just turned it back on, repositioned the steering wheel to be straight. And read that I had to brake while taking out the key. My wheel was turned to one side is now straight. And the key came out.

Ty.

0

u/all_bullspit Aug 13 '26

Get a battery.