09 Camry- Key won't turn

[old4x4]

Hi all..helping out my parents with this question. My parents just bought an '09 Camry with a very annoying problem. The ignition key won't turn after the car's been sitting. The wheel is straight, and the car isn't shut off with the wheel turned at all, and it happens even on dead level surfaces.
The dealer insists it's a safety feature and that there's nothing wrong with the car, but when my dad asks what this "feature" protects him from, there's a long pause and no answer from anyone at the dealer or ?corporate?
He's fit to be tied and my mom won't drive it for fear of getting stranded.

Anyone else see this problem?
It sounds like a bad ignition switch or a manufacturing defect that corp. Toyota's telling the dealers to bull@#$% their customers....

[EEngineer]

uhmm..buddy.....

here's the start sequence...

#1:
Make sure you are on P gear *assuming you got an automatic*

#2:

put your foot on the BRAKE PEDAL

#3:

hold your steering wheel gently with your left hand and move it a little bit

#4:

turn the key

and vroom the engine goes!

[Mike Gerber]

"The dealer insists it's a safety feature and that there's nothing wrong with the car, but when my dad asks what this "feature" protects him from, there's a long pause and no answer from anyone at the dealer or ?corporate?"

When a dealer tells you something that sounds rediculous, ask him or her to show this feature (or any other rediculous claim) on another 09 Camry they have parked in the lot.

Mike

[old4x4]

Originally Posted by EEngineer

uhmm..buddy.....

here's the start sequence...

#1:
Make sure you are on P gear *assuming you got an automatic*

#2:

put your foot on the BRAKE PEDAL

#3:

hold your steering wheel gently with your left hand and move it a little bit

#4:

turn the key

and vroom the engine goes!

Don't insult me. I asked for advice, not the ramblings of a cretin. Look the word up, if you can read at all..

[old4x4]

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

When a dealer tells you something that sounds rediculous, ask him or her to show this feature (or any other rediculous claim) on another 09 Camry they have parked in the lot.

Mike

Excellent idea...will do.

[Tek]

I have a 09 Camry with my own list of problems, but mine only does this when the wheel is forced against the wheel lock. I guess thats the best way to describe it. You need to take the pressure off the lock by moving the wheel left and then turn the key.


It is nothing that happens all the time like yours sounds. Mine only does this with my wheel turned and left out of the netural position.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by old4x4

Don't insult me. I asked for advice, not the ramblings of a cretin. Look the word up, if you can read at all..

Chill out newb, he gave you advice.

Don't have pressure on the steering wheel when you shut it off and you won't have that problem.

Operator error is the cause of your concern. Toyotas seem to be more sensitive to this than many other makes. Toyota dealers get several calls a week from people who can't start their car due to this.

[old4x4]

I've talked to 4 people so far who have 2007 or 2008 Camry's in the last couple of days who have NEVER experienced this, ranging from a 33 yr old to senior citizens. No problems from them.
Something's wrong, that's all. Possibly the key.
My father's giving them one more week to fix the problem, following their advice to a tee, then he's getting a refund. He's owned cars for 45 years without this kind of crap happening more than once or twice.
It's actually my mom's car and she won't drive it now because of this. No sense spending 25 G's for a garage decoration. (It is a nice looking car, though, although I haven't seen it yet)

[Tek]

Originally Posted by old4x4

I've talked to 4 people so far who have 2007 or 2008 Camry's in the last couple of days who have NEVER experienced this, ranging from a 33 yr old to senior citizens. No problems from them.
Something's wrong, that's all. Possibly the key.
My father's giving them one more week to fix the problem, following their advice to a tee, then he's getting a refund. He's owned cars for 45 years without this kind of crap happening more than once or twice.
It's actually my mom's car and she won't drive it now because of this. No sense spending 25 G's for a garage decoration. (It is a nice looking car, though, although I haven't seen it yet)

It is to the dealerships benefit to repair the car as they get paid by Toyota to fix it. I have feeling the person at the dealer mistaken this situation for the wheel lock, which is described in the owners manual.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by old4x4

I've talked to 4 people so far who have 2007 or 2008 Camry's in the last couple of days who have NEVER experienced this, ranging from a 33 yr old to senior citizens. No problems from them.

That's because they're probably shutting their cars off properly...

[old4x4]

Turns out it was a defective ignition lock. Dealer replaced it this AM and no prob's so far. Told ya.

[omegahaze]

1997 Toyota Camry Key Wont turn, Ignition Lock problem -1997 toyota camry FIXED!!! I see a lot of Douches with a capital D trying to charge people to fix this extremely common issue with this Camry ignition cylinder. OK pull the plastic guard off encasing the steering column. Get a phillips head screwdriver and remove the 2 screws holding the little off-white connector at the rear of the module(it has the wires to the ignition running to it). Get a pair of pliers or a small crescent wrench and while trying to turn the key use the wrench to turn the little rod sticking out of the back of the module. Make sure your turning it WITH the direction the key is trying to turn it. It should immediate be freed. Voila IT WORKS! AND THATS WHY PEOPLE DONT TRUST MECHANICS! HOW CAN YOU CHARGE SOMEONE FOR THAT INFO?