My T almost left me stranded

Went to Home Depot & parked in a perfectly level parking lot. When I
returned - the ignition key would not turn in the ignition to start -
as if the wrong key.
Checked the shifter and emergency brakes - including open doors and
finally after about five min. of struggling I turned the steering
wheel slightly - and all was well. The key finally worked.

I have had this sort of thing occur with gear shifters in hilly areas
but never a key?? The manual had nothing on the subject that I could
find. I have no alarm system. Are there any other 'traps' like this
one should be aware of?
j

In article <dthlb292kajc4m25cdp2art9auplucgup8@4ax.com>,
joe <nonspam@invalid.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Went to Home Depot & parked in a perfectly level parking lot. When I
> returned - the ignition key would not turn in the ignition to start -
> as if the wrong key.
> Checked the shifter and emergency brakes - including open doors and
> finally after about five min. of struggling I turned the steering
> wheel slightly - and all was well. The key finally worked.
>
> I have had this sort of thing occur with gear shifters in hilly areas
> but never a key??[/color]

That's the steering wheel lock. Perfectly normal.

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in message
news:elmop-C5FCB5.19444916072006@nntp2.usenetserver.com...[color=blue]
> In article <dthlb292kajc4m25cdp2art9auplucgup8@4ax.com>,
> joe <nonspam@invalid.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Went to Home Depot & parked in a perfectly level parking lot. When I
>> returned - the ignition key would not turn in the ignition to start -
>> as if the wrong key.
>> Checked the shifter and emergency brakes - including open doors and
>> finally after about five min. of struggling I turned the steering
>> wheel slightly - and all was well. The key finally worked.
>>
>> I have had this sort of thing occur with gear shifters in hilly areas
>> but never a key??[/color]
>
> That's the steering wheel lock. Perfectly normal.
>[/color]

This condition will occur if you pull on the steering wheel after you have
locked the ignition. If the key is difficult to turn, relieve the tension
on the steering wheel when turning the ignition key.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in message
news:elmop-C5FCB5.19444916072006@nntp2.usenetserver.com...[color=blue]
> In article <dthlb292kajc4m25cdp2art9auplucgup8@4ax.com>,
> joe <nonspam@invalid.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Went to Home Depot & parked in a perfectly level parking lot. When I
>> returned - the ignition key would not turn in the ignition to start -
>> as if the wrong key.
>> Checked the shifter and emergency brakes - including open doors and
>> finally after about five min. of struggling I turned the steering
>> wheel slightly - and all was well. The key finally worked.
>>
>> I have had this sort of thing occur with gear shifters in hilly areas
>> but never a key??[/color]
>
> That's the steering wheel lock. Perfectly normal.
>[/color]

Yep, I've had that happen on every Toyota I've ever owned from '72 to '95.

Charles of Schaumburg.

On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 21:02:52 -0500, "Ray O"
<rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in message
>news:elmop-C5FCB5.19444916072006@nntp2.usenetserver.com...[color=green]
>> In article <dthlb292kajc4m25cdp2art9auplucgup8@4ax.com>,
>> joe <nonspam@invalid.com> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Went to Home Depot & parked in a perfectly level parking lot. When I
>>> returned - the ignition key would not turn in the ignition to start -
>>> as if the wrong key.
>>> Checked the shifter and emergency brakes - including open doors and
>>> finally after about five min. of struggling I turned the steering
>>> wheel slightly - and all was well. The key finally worked.
>>>
>>> I have had this sort of thing occur with gear shifters in hilly areas
>>> but never a key??[/color]
>>
>> That's the steering wheel lock. Perfectly normal.
>>[/color]
>
>This condition will occur if you pull on the steering wheel after you have
>locked the ignition. If the key is difficult to turn, relieve the tension
>on the steering wheel when turning the ignition key.[/color]


Thanks - glad I asked what appeared to me to be a stupid question. I
guess I like to have the wheel low and use it for leverage in getting
in or out. All 160 lbs of me.

j

"joe" <nonspam@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:tr0mb29f40lhol6h0jptk1b0i0fjq7ba2g@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 21:02:52 -0500, "Ray O"
> <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in message
>>news:elmop-C5FCB5.19444916072006@nntp2.usenetserver.com...[color=darkred]
>>> In article <dthlb292kajc4m25cdp2art9auplucgup8@4ax.com>,
>>> joe <nonspam@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Went to Home Depot & parked in a perfectly level parking lot. When I
>>>> returned - the ignition key would not turn in the ignition to start -
>>>> as if the wrong key.
>>>> Checked the shifter and emergency brakes - including open doors and
>>>> finally after about five min. of struggling I turned the steering
>>>> wheel slightly - and all was well. The key finally worked.
>>>>
>>>> I have had this sort of thing occur with gear shifters in hilly areas
>>>> but never a key??
>>>
>>> That's the steering wheel lock. Perfectly normal.
>>>[/color]
>>
>>This condition will occur if you pull on the steering wheel after you have
>>locked the ignition. If the key is difficult to turn, relieve the tension
>>on the steering wheel when turning the ignition key.[/color]
>
>
> Thanks - glad I asked what appeared to me to be a stupid question. I
> guess I like to have the wheel low and use it for leverage in getting
> in or out. All 160 lbs of me.
>
> j[/color]

Using the steering wheel for leverage will result in the locking mechanism
engaging!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Next time you park with the wheel pulled to the left or right, let go of the
wheel BEFORE you turn off the key, WBMA ;)


mike hunt


"joe" <nonspam@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:dthlb292kajc4m25cdp2art9auplucgup8@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> Went to Home Depot & parked in a perfectly level parking lot. When I
> returned - the ignition key would not turn in the ignition to start -
> as if the wrong key.
> Checked the shifter and emergency brakes - including open doors and
> finally after about five min. of struggling I turned the steering
> wheel slightly - and all was well. The key finally worked.
>
> I have had this sort of thing occur with gear shifters in hilly areas
> but never a key?? The manual had nothing on the subject that I could
> find. I have no alarm system. Are there any other 'traps' like this
> one should be aware of?
> j[/color]