Hi, my name is Abigail and I am having problems with my 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I can not turn my key in the ignition. The steering wheel lock does not seem to be engaged. The car will start with my automatic starter, but even with the car started the key will not turn. I have tried jiggling the key, moving the steering wheel, and applying pressure to the gear shift. Nothing is working. Please send me your ideas! Help!!

 

I just went through this a few weeks ago. The tumblers in the lock cylinder were bad. It took a locksmith about 10 minutes to pop the lock and replace the tumblers onsight so I could use my original key. Cost was over $100.

 

Did you have a problem at all before, hard to turn, notchy feeling etc? Does the key look worn out, bent or irregular in any way?

Im not saying to knock the tar out of it but you might take a hammer or something like it and tap on the lock cylinder, maybe spray some penetrate oil in there first. Also stick the key in and try to tap around the lock cylinder while trying to turn the key too. This would not be a fix for the issue but it might keep you from being stranded. You or somebody else will need to be able to turn the cylinder in order to replace it, if not they will need to drill/extract it somehow.