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Bought an older (97) vehicle to tinker with. It's a Toyota and the drivers side where you put the key in is froze. It was working and the other day the whole mechanism turned and now my key won't turn it. It's like it's froze up or locked up. Anyone know anyone who can take it out and maybe fix it?

Spray some wd 40 in the lock run the key in and out and try to turn it. Tumblers get dry and stick and don't fall into place on the key to open the lock.

yourmanwm75 wrote:Spray some wd 40 in the lock run the key in and out and try to turn it. Tumblers get dry and stick and don't fall into place on the key to open the lock.

I would use liquid graphite before WD 40.

Worked as a locksmith for years wd 40 will work fine. Graphite makes a mess.

I've done that multiple times to no avail. I think the tumblers are messed up.

Well if you was a little rough with it you can bend them up. But Toyota has more trouble with lock and keys. You might just have a wore out key and need a new one cut by the original key code. Making a copy is not the same. Have you tried gently jiggling the key up and down as you turn it left and right?

yourmanwm75 wrote:Well if you was a little rough with it you can bend them up. But Toyota has more trouble with lock and keys. You might just have a wore out key and need a new one cut by the original key code. Making a copy is not the same. Have you tried gently jiggling the key up and down as you turn it left and right?

Exact same thing happened to my Z71, and he is correct making a copy of the key did not work. Locksmith advised me to go to dealership and get a new key before I spend the $$ on him. Worked like a charm.

This happened to me last Christmas Eve while duck hunting. After trying everything we could think of, including WD-40, we had to call a wrecker to tow us away from the swamp. And try getting your truck repaired on Tuesday when Christmas is on Wednesday...and for a whole week afterward, for that matter!