key wont turn please help

Brian Goodrich · 12-22-2002, 02:01 PM

I have a 1996 mustang gt convertible

i havent turned the car on in about four months since ive been away at school - i came home for christmas and went to put the key in the ignition but it is stuck and wont turn at all.

all the interior/exterior lights go on - so the battery isnt the problem i dont think. the factory alarm churps and the remote for the doors and trunk works as well.

i hear a clicking sound coming from the left side of the trunk, i dont know what that is. also, a weird computer-like sound came out from underneath the steering column when i put the key in one time. the clicking/computer sound doesnt happen every time i put the key in.

ive read something about fuel-shutoff in the trunk-- could it be that? please help i have no clue. its christmas and all i want to do is rev my pony up!

bstang46 · 12-22-2002, 04:42 PM

I am not really sure about the 96's. But, it sounds like the microchip in your key is faulty. Might want to get that checked out. I also think that the clicking sound you are talking about is your fuel pump.

I hope I might have helped.

Brandon

Hammer · 12-22-2002, 04:47 PM

Will the key physically turn?
Or is the car just not turning over....

Sounds like you have a problem with something in your PATS system (Passive Anti Theft). It may not be recognizing your key.

If the other one doesn't work, it could be the sensor in your steering column....

Brian Goodrich · 12-22-2002, 04:52 PM

thanks for your advice it turned out that i just had to jiggle the steering column a bit and that did the trick. thanks to everyone who wrote back. merry christmas

12-22-2002, 05:13 PM

Hello,

If your key is the correct key and you have determined it is not the anti-theft system, or a faulty ignition, then it may be that, during your adsence, the inertia/fuel pump switch (located in the trunk) may have been tripped. It is usually covered by carpeting but is mounted up on the inside luggage wall (my 1996 V-6 is on the left side, upper luggage wall). If the switch is activated, it will be popped out, if it has popped, push the reset button on the top of the switch.

The click from the front you are hearing may be the CCRM. This happy little thing includes your fuel pump relay, your PCM power relay as well as other fun stuff. The fuel pump will operate as long as it is receiving igntition pulses from the EIS.

"....... the clicking/computer sound doesnt happen every time i put the key in....."

If there are no, or faulty reference pulses, then the fuel pump will shut off after one to two seconds. This could be why you heared the noise and then didn't hear it again.

Hope it's your key or the inertia switch, Boss. Good luck. Electronic cars are soooooooo fun!

~Jenn~

12-22-2002, 05:14 PM

....After all that... Just kidding....Glad it was a user-interface issue..LOL....

Good thing..Merry Christmas!

~Jenn~

Hammer · 12-22-2002, 07:41 PM

Quote:

The click from the front you are hearing may be the CCRM. This happy little thing includes your fuel pump relay, your PCM power relay as well as other fun stuff.

Yea, It pretty much includes a little bit of everything... including the radiator fan....and its not exactly the easiest part to get to either...

12-23-2002, 07:37 PM

Hammer,

It's about as entertaining as a heater core removal/install....

~Jenn~

stangt00 · 12-23-2002, 07:51 PM

I really hate it when the damn O.F.F. wolnt engange the O.N. flux capacitator. That really burns my A.S.S. system ya know

mlambrecht82 · 12-23-2002, 09:46 PM

Until I finished reading the whole thread, I thought that someone had placed a pack of C4 in your car while you were gone. Well, I'm glade it was just your locking steering wheel.

paver one · 12-24-2002, 12:44 PM

Lesson learned: jiggle first,ask questions later..........

12-24-2002, 06:58 PM

paver one...wrote "Lesson learned: jiggle first,ask questions later..........

Ahhhh..Thank you...ROFLMAO..Also, for me lesson learned was make sure you don't type too much and do laundry and dishes while posting...Response Lag.... LOL....

mlambrecht82,

I hate it when people put C-4 in my trunk while I'm away for 4 months...Trips that damn fuel pump switch...Annoying.

Not to mention the havoc it causes with the whole car....

stangt00...Are you being funny?.....LOL..Hmmmmmmmmm... the off, and the on, with the flux capacitor...All righty then... j/k

It's all good.... Merry Christmas, Funny Guys...

~Jenn~

stangt00 · 12-24-2002, 11:50 PM

Yes it was an attempt at being funny. For real life, I am an aircraft mechinic in the military. An old joke when a pilot comes back with a discrepancy is "Was the switch in the O.F.F. position?". Then we would sign off the discrepancy "Placed switch in O.N. position, Checks good" Anyways, Merry Christmas all!

12-25-2002, 12:55 AM

"Placed switch in O.N. position, Checks good"

Copy that..Merry Christmas!

~Jenn~

12-22-2002, 02:01 PM	#1
Brian Goodrich Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2	key wont turn please help I have a 1996 mustang gt convertible i havent turned the car on in about four months since ive been away at school - i came home for christmas and went to put the key in the ignition but it is stuck and wont turn at all. all the interior/exterior lights go on - so the battery isnt the problem i dont think. the factory alarm churps and the remote for the doors and trunk works as well. i hear a clicking sound coming from the left side of the trunk, i dont know what that is. also, a weird computer-like sound came out from underneath the steering column when i put the key in one time. the clicking/computer sound doesnt happen every time i put the key in. ive read something about fuel-shutoff in the trunk-- could it be that? please help i have no clue. its christmas and all i want to do is rev my pony up!

12-22-2002, 04:42 PM	#2
bstang46 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: GA Posts: 84	I am not really sure about the 96's. But, it sounds like the microchip in your key is faulty. Might want to get that checked out. I also think that the clicking sound you are talking about is your fuel pump. I hope I might have helped. Brandon __________________ 2001 Yellow GT Mods: A little of this, and a little of that.

12-22-2002, 04:47 PM	#3
Hammer AKA "Dr. Evil" Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: South Fork Ranch Posts: 1,721	Will the key physically turn? Or is the car just not turning over.... Sounds like you have a problem with something in your PATS system (Passive Anti Theft). It may not be recognizing your key. If the other one doesn't work, it could be the sensor in your steering column.... __________________ Uncle Sam "What the hell is up with all the gauges? Calling Captain Kirk, your ride awaits... Phasers on stun...."

12-22-2002, 04:52 PM	#4
Brian Goodrich Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 2	thanks thanks for your advice it turned out that i just had to jiggle the steering column a bit and that did the trick. thanks to everyone who wrote back. merry christmas

12-22-2002, 05:13 PM	#5
Janeofalltrades Guest Posts: n/a	Inertia switch/CCRM Hello, If your key is the correct key and you have determined it is not the anti-theft system, or a faulty ignition, then it may be that, during your adsence, the inertia/fuel pump switch (located in the trunk) may have been tripped. It is usually covered by carpeting but is mounted up on the inside luggage wall (my 1996 V-6 is on the left side, upper luggage wall). If the switch is activated, it will be popped out, if it has popped, push the reset button on the top of the switch. The click from the front you are hearing may be the CCRM. This happy little thing includes your fuel pump relay, your PCM power relay as well as other fun stuff. The fuel pump will operate as long as it is receiving igntition pulses from the EIS. "....... the clicking/computer sound doesnt happen every time i put the key in....." If there are no, or faulty reference pulses, then the fuel pump will shut off after one to two seconds. This could be why you heared the noise and then didn't hear it again. Hope it's your key or the inertia switch, Boss. Good luck. Electronic cars are soooooooo fun! ~Jenn~

12-22-2002, 05:14 PM	#6
Janeofalltrades Guest Posts: n/a	OOOO Dude.... ....After all that... Just kidding....Glad it was a user-interface issue..LOL.... Good thing..Merry Christmas! ~Jenn~

12-23-2002, 07:37 PM	#8
Janeofalltrades Guest Posts: n/a	Hammer - Heater Core Hammer, It's about as entertaining as a heater core removal/install.... ~Jenn~

12-23-2002, 07:51 PM	#9
stangt00 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Philadelphia PA Posts: 143	I really hate it when the damn O.F.F. wolnt engange the O.N. flux capacitator. That really burns my A.S.S. system ya know __________________ 2000 GT 80mm Pro-M mass air, 24lb injectors, 75mm BBK T/B, K&N Filter Cold Air, 1/2" Phenolic intake spacer, Underdrive Pulleys, Dyno Tuned Autologic Chip, FMS Shorty Headers, Mac Prochamber 2 1/2" Off Road H pipe, 2 Chamber Flowmasters, Steeda lowering springs. Steeda Tri-Ax Short Throw shifter, Steeda Power slot rotors w/ Hawk Pro pads, 3.73 FRP Gears. Headwork and Comp cams install in progress.

12-23-2002, 09:46 PM	#10
mlambrecht82 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 101	Until I finished reading the whole thread, I thought that someone had placed a pack of C4 in your car while you were gone. Well, I'm glade it was just your locking steering wheel. __________________ _________________________________ 04 Cobra densecharger CAI BBK off road X pipe Custom Electronic Exhaust cut outs Tuning via Diablo Predator Ported and polished Throttle body and plenum Line locker (for the smoke shows) Stock boost 412 rwhp 379 rwtq

12-24-2002, 12:44 PM	#11
paver one Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Ogden Utah Posts: 58	Lesson learned: jiggle first,ask questions later.......... __________________ 1999 F-350 CC Dually PStroke,1996 SALEEN s281SC vert #380 & 2004 F-150 FX4 Crew Cab

12-24-2002, 06:58 PM	#12
Janeofalltrades Guest Posts: n/a	:) paver one...wrote "Lesson learned: jiggle first,ask questions later.......... Ahhhh..Thank you...ROFLMAO..Also, for me lesson learned was make sure you don't type too much and do laundry and dishes while posting...Response Lag.... LOL.... mlambrecht82, I hate it when people put C-4 in my trunk while I'm away for 4 months...Trips that damn fuel pump switch...Annoying. Not to mention the havoc it causes with the whole car.... stangt00...Are you being funny?.....LOL..Hmmmmmmmmm... the off, and the on, with the flux capacitor...All righty then... j/k It's all good.... Merry Christmas, Funny Guys... ~Jenn~

12-24-2002, 11:50 PM	#13
stangt00 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Philadelphia PA Posts: 143	Yes it was an attempt at being funny. For real life, I am an aircraft mechinic in the military. An old joke when a pilot comes back with a discrepancy is "Was the switch in the O.F.F. position?". Then we would sign off the discrepancy "Placed switch in O.N. position, Checks good" Anyways, Merry Christmas all! __________________ 2000 GT 80mm Pro-M mass air, 24lb injectors, 75mm BBK T/B, K&N Filter Cold Air, 1/2" Phenolic intake spacer, Underdrive Pulleys, Dyno Tuned Autologic Chip, FMS Shorty Headers, Mac Prochamber 2 1/2" Off Road H pipe, 2 Chamber Flowmasters, Steeda lowering springs. Steeda Tri-Ax Short Throw shifter, Steeda Power slot rotors w/ Hawk Pro pads, 3.73 FRP Gears. Headwork and Comp cams install in progress.

12-25-2002, 12:55 AM	#14
Janeofalltrades Guest Posts: n/a	Copy that! "Placed switch in O.N. position, Checks good" Copy that..Merry Christmas! ~Jenn~

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