Any old VW experts here?

[vtfireman85]

1972 Karmann Ghia, I started and drove it down the road last week no troubles, put it back in the barn, gravel floor, fairly flat, and driven straight in and parked. I tried to move it today but the key won’t turn and the steering column is locked. I have shook the wheel, lubricated the switch, it feels like it’s hitting the stops on the column lock, not like something is wrong in the steering box. I beat on the switch with my hand, and also did it while wiggling the key in and out and back and forth. I am kind of at a loss. I have a tilt deck, so I suppose I could pull it out and haul it somewhere if it comes to that, but I haven’t got time to mess with it and I need to move it to get the mower and rototiller out. 
any suggestions? 

[yellowrosefarm]

45 minutes ago, vtfireman85 said:

1972 Karmann Ghia, I started and drove it down the road last week no troubles, put it back in the barn, gravel floor, fairly flat, and driven straight in and parked. I tried to move it today but the key won’t turn and the steering column is locked. I have shook the wheel, lubricated the switch, it feels like it’s hitting the stops on the column lock, not like something is wrong in the steering box. I beat on the switch with my hand, and also did it while wiggling the key in and out and back and forth. I am kind of at a loss. I have a tilt deck, so I suppose I could pull it out and haul it somewhere if it comes to that, but I haven’t got time to mess with it and I need to move it to get the mower and rototiller out. 
any suggestions? 

Do you have another key to try?  I had that happen with my 88 Nissan truck when the original key wore down so much it was no longer the "right" key. One day it worked, the next it didn't.

[Ihfan4life]

Had that happen in Burlington with my brothers car. Dropped a girl off at her car, she drove away, and then I couldn’t get the damn key to turn. Lucky for me she came back to see if I was okay. Shoulda kept that one…. Girl, not car…

[Sledgehammer]

Had a ford focus do that and drilled out the tumbler. New ignition switch fixed that one. I'd guess it's a key/tumbler issue

[Matt Kirsch]

Try holding the steering wheel to one side or the other WHILE turning the key. There may be pressure against the steering wheel lock and pulling the wheel will relieve that pressure. I've had it happen before. If one way doesn't work try the other.

[vtfireman85]

https://youtu.be/o2p0OvVqQCc

https://youtu.be/o2p0OvVqQCc

[vtfireman85]

Sorry, IDK why it won’t embed, I wasn’t able to hold the phone and do the key and steering wheel at the same time, but I have been doing that .

[560Dennis]

Strange worked prior now it doesn’t . Some one switch keys on you as practical joke ?

[vtfireman85]

41 minutes ago, 560Dennis said:

Strange worked prior now it doesn’t . Some one switch keys on you as practical joke ?

Nobody here but me, and there’s only one key that I know of. It’s fairly distinctive 

[junkandcattle]

Maybe some panther pee of some variety and some compressed air to work it in then tap on it.  Might work 

[vtfireman85]

I did give a small snort of weasel piss into the switch, I will try again tomorrow and see what happens. The VW guru called back and suggested beating the column with a dead blow while wiggling the switch 😂

[560Dennis]

Anything on ggoogle that apply ,you probably looked but say , know nothing about it. 

[New Englander]

Does it feel like the key turns just a little bit before it won't? If so maybe the lock pin has jammed somehow. If not probably it's the lock cylinder itself and either the key is worn too much or a pin is cocked or jammed perhaps. Raking the tumblers as you have may be the answer or it's going to be a locksmith or drill it out. 50 year-old lock may just have given up.

[New Englander]

Here's what's inside just to give you and idea of what you're up against. If you can't get the key to turn you can't get the lock cylinder out. Maybe if you remove the wheel you can at least see if the lock pin is seized and the problem. I suspect it's more likely the lock cylinder but???????

 

 

[int 504]

jack up a front wheel

[vtfireman85]

2 hours ago, New Englander said:

Here's what's inside just to give you and idea of what you're up against. If you can't get the key to turn you can't get the lock cylinder out. Maybe if you remove the wheel you can at least see if the lock pin is seized and the problem. I suspect it's more likely the lock cylinder but???????

 

 

I actually saw that video, and as you said, at least i knew what I was dealing with. I managed to gently finness the key in pulling in and out and the center clicked in and released the ignition, i got it moved and put back in, but unfortunately I had a brain fart and pulled the key out when I parked it🤦🏼‍♂️ either way I guess I will figure out how to pull the steering wheel and investigate what portion is messed up in the switch, but it’s definitely either the  cylinder or the switch, not farther down. 

[acem]

Does it have a separate lever/button to release the key?

Those can give trouble.

[vtfireman85]

44 minutes ago, acem said:

Does it have a separate lever/button to release the key?

Those can give trouble.

Nope