Why wont the key turn in the ignition?

Answer 1

Make sure that the shift lever is fully in park. Make sure it is the right key... Key or ignition barrel may be worn out. Try pushing the shift lever up and turn the key. For a floor shifter try pressing the brake pedal, push the shifter handel forward while trying to turn the key. You may not believe this now, but I've used this trick on a minivan as well as a standard key-driven padlock...take a large firm object, such as a 2x4 or a large rock, and smack the end of the key directly into (towards) the steering column as you would a nail that you were driving into a board. This will often align the tumblers in the ingnition switch and allow the teeth in the key to find their home and allow the key to turn. Otherwise, the tumblers are misaligned and no not recognize the key you are using. This will impress even the most skeptical of auto-philes.