Ignition Locked

[Z8Muse]

OK... I have searched forums and the internet and can only find one mention of this back in '02, and it wasn't a pretty fix. But I am hoping someone here has seen or knows something about this problem.

Anecdotal info: After my car sat for months (with intermittent start-ups to keep her happy) waiting for the Perf. Pkg. fix, it is done. I have driven her twice since I got it back 10 days ago ... no issues.

Yesterday I got in to start it up and the key will not turn. I jiggled the steering wheel and tried incantations and expletives, all to no avail. I have door lights, but nothing else, as ignition will not engage. Local dealer has not returned my call today, so I await their call tomorrow.

Any ideas?

[macfly]

I can only suggest that you apply a bit more force than a wiggle, as sometimes, very occasionally, if the weight of the car has settled on the lock it can require quite a force to release it. Try pulling with all your might first one way with one hand on the wheel and the other giggling the key, then the other way. If that doesn't do it then it could be a dead battery. A broken ignition lock I've heard of only twice in all these years, but both times was on German cars, once on a GT3 and once on a Z8.

[Orcatek]

Mine did it once, but it ended up being the battery. Threw a charger on it and worked fine. The battery was not dead, but low enough that for some reason the lock would not work.

[bummsbass]

It might be the battery. I made a similar experience, after charging the battery everything worked fine.

[Dogsbreath]

Mine did the same when the battery died. (It also had one driving light on !!!) All issues resloved when I charged the battery.

Dave P

[RRZ8]

Most likely (imho), as stated above; battery (of the car). Or maybe battery inside key? (charged on 30 minutes+ trips).

[jpklecker]

I had a similar problem with my 2002 Z8 and it was because the car battery was not charged enough... I had to get a new battery. The interior lights would come on upon entering the car, but the key would not turn. After getting a jump start connection the key turned as normal.

[Z8doc]

Any ideas?

I had to convince my dealer to replace the battery though. They just said it needed charging, so they charged it and after only 4 days of not driving the Z8, same problem. My car was still under warranty at the time and I think they were reluctant to replace the battery under warranty. I took my own battery tester to the dealer ship and showed them it was only 30% capacity and was an indication to replace it.

If it had not been under warranty, I may have switch to a different battery (an Optima) that has the same power but is smaller and lighter and makes a few cubic inches of space in that compartment to put a few other things. That is described elsewhere on this site for reference.