Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: unlucky alf on 24 March 2014, 19:43:13
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Tonight I just popped out to the shop & went to start the car to come home & the key wont turn no matter how much I try, This has gone suddenly as it's always been fine,I sprayed in some WD 40 but still no joy :( Obviously I cant get the tumbler out as I cant turn it to the 2nd position, So what is my options to getting this sorted as I cant leave the car where it is overnight,,,,,Cheers.
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Try jiggling the wheel as you turn the key... :-\
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I tried that & it just wont budge, It seems like the tumbler isn't dropping right down to turn, :(
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Does the barrel pop out a few mm when you remove the Key?
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You're just going to have to keep jiggling it with a lub of sorts squirted in there till it moves :(
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Does the barrel pop out a few mm when you remove the Key?
It has popped out like normal & has put on the steering lock but when i put the key in the tumbler doesn't seem to push fully down to turn, I have just been up there with my spare key & still no joy.
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You're just going to have to keep jiggling it with a lub of sorts squirted in there till it moves :(
I put in plenty of WD40 & was jiggling it for at least 15 mins, Been back there with my other key & had another go but with no joy. :'(
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Try putting a tiny bit of "turn" pressure on as you insert the key .. sort of rubbing the key down the side of the tumblers .... I had to do that on the old 2.5 when the key got slightly damaged and I used emery to remove the damage (.... and too much of the key at a guess) ... new key sorted that one .....
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barrel not spung out--pull wheel hard to left and try key then?
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barrel not spung out--pull wheel hard to left and try key then?
Barrel is sprung out, & believe me I have pushed, Pulled, Jiggled, Wiggled & even used every swear word I could think of & even that didn't work. :D.Looks like I'll have to resort to the club hammer if nothing else works or does the alloy bit with the steering lock have sheer bolts I can take out?.
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Try putting a tiny bit of "turn" pressure on as you insert the key .. sort of rubbing the key down the side of the tumblers .... I had to do that on the old 2.5 when the key got slightly damaged and I used emery to remove the damage (.... and too much of the key at a guess) ... new key sorted that one .....
Yes I know what you mean but I have been back with my spare key & it's just the same, The thing that gets me is that I didn't get the normal warning of it getting fiddly first. :o
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I've had more luck with a solvent cleaner than WD40 or similar. Brake or carb cleaner if you already have them; electrical switch cleaner if you have to buy something. Try Maplins.
And keep jiggling/trying the lock, as it might free off. If it does, then whip the barrel out straight away!
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Seen as though I'm local ish to you ... do you want a tow home or any help with trying to get it freed off
/ fetching spare key to try (if you have one) ?
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Seen as though I'm local ish to you ... do you want a tow home or any help with trying to get it freed off / fetching spare key to try (if you have one) ?
Thanks for the offer, Luckily one of my neighbours mates has a recovery truck & is going to give me a hand in the morning, We were going to move it tonight but my car is now been boxed in by residents so cant push the damn thing out due to steering lock on!, The law of sod has found me tonight >:(.
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Well it could be worse ... Think "fire" :D At least it will be safe till morning :y
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Ive just been looking in the Haynes book of lies & there is no mention of the steering lock housing being removable, Does this mean I'll have to use the club hammer & replace the whole column?, :-\
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http://oldsite.omegaowners.com//forum/YaBB.pl?num=1213353737
No idea if this will help the cause or not as it states you have to have the ignition in position 1
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Ive just been looking in the Haynes book of lies & there is no mention of the steering lock housing being removable, Does this mean I'll have to use the club hammer & replace the whole column?, :-\
I'm sure the ignition lock was originally bolted on using shear headed bolts so I'd guess that judicious use of Vice/Mole grips would remove it.
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Was the key stiff or hard to turn recently? I had a Senator behave similarly years ago. One day it would not turn at all, so I could not get the barrel out. Locksmiths would not help me. I put a drill down the middle of the lock - began with smaill drill bit, then progressively used bigger drills - and suddenly the lock turned easily with a screwdriver. Then I could turn the lock, start and run the car, but mainly, extract the lock barrel. Then I could change the lock barrel and all was well.
Moral is when lock barrels get stiff, take them out and clean them, as maintenance guide on this forum.
It was not a difficult job, can't think why it should not work on an Omega.
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Was the key stiff or hard to turn recently? I had a Senator behave similarly years ago. One day it would not turn at all, so I could not get the barrel out. Locksmiths would not help me. I put a drill down the middle of the lock - began with smaill drill bit, then progressively used bigger drills - and suddenly the lock turned easily with a screwdriver. Then I could turn the lock, start and run the car, but mainly, extract the lock barrel. Then I could change the lock barrel and all was well.
Moral is when lock barrels get stiff, take them out and clean them, as maintenance guide on this forum.
It was not a difficult job, can't think why it should not work on an Omega.
Cheers for the advice, I will be getting the old pig recovered this morning then I can attack it with a drill :y, In answer to your question the lock has been no problem at all & never stiff , Just hoping I can pick up a barrel & key today as I need the car for a hospital appointment tomorrow in Sheffield.
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Before destroying it, I would recommend spending a little time trying to free it off. As said, some very light lubricant sprayed into the lock may help.
When this happened to me I found tapping the end of the key while trying to turn it worked. I guess it shocked the lock levers into moving where they were previously jammed. Once you have got the key to turn, you just need to remove the plastic cowling and insert an allen key to remove the barrel, so it's a much better solution than brute force, IMHO, although you might well end up having to resort to that.
If you do get it to move, turn it to position 1 and leave it there, then follow this guide: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90600.0 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90600.0)
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Before destroying it, I would recommend spending a little time trying to free it off. As said, some very light lubricant sprayed into the lock may help.
When this happened to me I found tapping the end of the key while trying to turn it worked. I guess it shocked the lock levers into moving where they were previously jammed. Once you have got the key to turn, you just need to remove the plastic cowling and insert an allen key to remove the barrel, so it's a much better solution than brute force, IMHO, although you might well end up having to resort to that.
If you do get it to move, turn it to position 1 and leave it there, then follow this guide: http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90600.0 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90600.0)
Cheers Kevin, Unfortunately I've just read this after drilling it out. :( Anyhow the car is now back so it's down to a trip to the scrappys now to get another barrel, Luckily I dont have to program any keys or worry about chips as my old bus has the old RF immobiliser fitted, I believe the ignition tumbler is the same as Astras,Vectras, Zafiras etc so at least I havent got to find a miggy. ;)
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... I believe the ignition tumbler is the same as Astras,Vectras, Zafiras etc so at least I havent got to find a miggy. ;)
Omega's key are different.
Astra etc = http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-OPEL-Vectra-Astra-Zafira-2-button-Remote-Key-Fob-Shell-Blank-Blade-/170864991463?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Safety_Security&hash=item27c858dce7
Omega = http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-VECTRA-ASTRA-ZAFIRA-ETC-2-BUTTON-REMOTE-KEY-FOB-WITH-LED-LIGHT-/141234170279?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Safety_Security&hash=item20e23669a7
Don't take any notice of the eBay descriptions .... they're wrong :y
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Bit late. but check your key isn't bent!
Only needs to be a little bit 'off' and suddenly nothing works.
This happened to me the other day, drove to garage, filled up, got back in car to start it and couldn't get key to turn no matter how much I tried, pulled the key out and noticed it was ever so slightly bent, bent it back with my fingers prob less than 1mm and hey presto worked fine again
:)