Certified Technicians Available
Tuffy Sells Tires
We Build Customers For Life!
We Diagnose & Fix Problems The First Time
"100 years of combined experience in the automotive industry"
June 2, 2024
You've just arrived at the store shopping and you're ready to head home. You put your key in the ignition and… oh, no! The ignition won't turn! What do you do now?
Don't panic. There are some things you can do to get going again. The first thing to do is see if you have a locking steering wheel, an anti-theft feature that was introduced around 1970. Sometimes it sticks. Move the steering wheel side to side while you try to turn the key and you might be able to get it to release.
Another thing to check is to see if your vehicle is in gear. Most vehicles will only allow you to start the ignition if it's in park or neutral. If you have an automatic transmission vehicle and it is in park, try jiggling the shift lever and try the key again. Sometimes the safety mechanism doesn't properly make contact or gets a little sloppy.
If both of these don't work, it could be your vehicle's battery is dead. Some newer electronic systems require power so the key can turn. Others have alarm systems that detect if doors are open.
Other issues that can cause key problems include something jammed in the lock cylinder. Or some of the springs or pins inside may be stuck. Consider that it may be the key itself. Sometimes they get bent or simply wear out from the number of times they've been put in and taken out of the cylinder.
No matter what the cause, the first time this happens you should have your repair service facility check it out. That’s because if it happens once, it can happen again. Even if you were able to get going again on your own, your ignition/key has warned you that something's wrong. Have it checked out by a pro so you’re not locked into a bad situation.
Tuffy Fort Mill
9909 Charlotte Highway
Fort Mill, SC 29715
803-802-2466
http://www.tuffyftmill.com
October 27, 2025
So you almost got through the winter until, one day, your muffler started sounding like a dragster, loud and obnoxious. It's not surprising. All that road salt and brine can cause rust to punch holes in a muffler, and that should raise a big, red warning flag about the safety of your vehicle. O... More
October 23, 2025
There's one fluid in your car you are always careful to keep at a certain level: the fuel. If you don't have fuel, you're not going anywhere. Your vehicle has other fluids which are vitally important to proper and safe operation, too. So, here's a "level" headed approach to those "other" fluids... More
October 12, 2025
When you're driving and turn a corner, you probably aren't aware of all that's going on with your wheels. The outside wheels have a longer distance to travel than the inside wheels, so there are gears that allow the wheels to go at different speeds when you turn. That set of gears is called a d... More
