Yesterday I walked up to my car and tried to open it using the Infrared Remote control on the "switchblade" style key. It did not work, so I opened the passenger side door using the key rather than the remote. (driver side door has no keyhole) I noticed that none of the other doors unlocked simultaneously with the passenger door , as they normally do (central locking) . I now walked to the trunk and unlocked it, using the key, to check if that would unlock the driver side door. It did not and then I realized that the car battery was completely dead due to my stupidity of leaving an interior light on overnight. I hooked up the battery charger and let it charge for a while. At some point the car alarm started going off. By now the car had enough juice in the battery for the remote control to respond again. By locking and unlocking the car with the RC I could shut off the alarm. I continued charging the battery for a while until I thought it was time to try whether it would start yet. I inserted the key in the ignition lock, but it would not turn. The steering wheel lock was not engaged. I wiggled the regular key in the lock for a while, trying to get it to turn, then tried with the spare key but the lock simply won't turn. I have meanwhile charged the battery for 8 more hours so it is at an OK voltage level.
Is there some sort of anti theft feature that I have inadvertently triggered in my attempts to open the car while the battery was dead?
If so, how do I reset this?

Things I have tried so far.
1-Lock and unlock the car with the remote and insert the key in the ignition within 10 seconds. ( this is supposedly the procedure to resynch the RC with the car)
2-Lock and unlock the car with the remote while the key is in the ignition.
3-Lock the car with the trunk lock, then unlock it with the remote.
4-Lock the car with the remote, then unlock it with the trunk lock
5-Tried two different keys
6-removed and reconnected battery cable.
7-Turned the steering wheel, which engaged the steering wheel lock. I made sure on follow on attempts to turn the key that there was no pressure on the steering lock pin.

I have a hard time believing that this is an issue with the tumblers in the ignition lock since it would be a heck of a coincidence that that would manifest itself right after the dead battery episode.

Note, this car has the relatively simple infrared Only remote control (single button) in the master key. It does not have the smart key with the multiple buttons for "lock" "unlock" and "panic".

Calls for new dealer coded ignition lock assembly...VIN # specific....about 4 hours to instal. Sorry.

Sounds like the tumbler lock bar broken....hey...stuff happens

BTW....boost charging will take out the start sensor...charge battery fully disconnected from the car.




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Friend,
I agree with "the protag...". Tumblers fail frequently. Not as frequently as folks leave a lite on and draw the battery down, however.
With some luck you may get it to turn if you position your tongue just right.
If it does turn, do not return it to the off position. The key needs to be in the 1st position for removal or else you are sc....ed.
good luck
dpk