XC Barina - Key won't turn in ignition?

[Big_Valven]

Hi guys,
My girlfriend is stranded 400km away in her 2001 XC Barina.

1.4 litre automatic
2 door
125,000kms (if any of that helps.)

Her key goes into the ingition, but will not turn. She has jiggled the wheel, foot on the brake, checked the transmission shifter, jiggled the key, unlocked / re locked the car, and the key will go in and out, but not turn at all.

No key = no go and the RACV got her going once but it jammed as soon as she took the key out again. She didn't see what the RACV did to get it going :soap:

Does anyone have any ideas as to what's going on? The two obvious parts are the mechanical barrel itself and the hateful lockout solenoids and crap that seem to be wired everywhere into the car.

It had a complete engine changeover done about 2000km ago because nearly every bloody thing on it broke, and I can't remember two or more months where the sorry thing didn't break in one way or another. This time is rather serious!

Any help greatly appreciated.

[cams290]

Hi Mate, It is a common problem with these Barinas.
A friend of mine had the same problem with hers about 18 months ago and had to get a lock smith out to fix it.

If you "google" it you will find heaps of info about it.

[ice57l]

very hard to tell you on here what to do, best way to describe the first thing is to put the key in, and take the weight off the steering lock with the other hand.. while the weight is off gentle shake the key up and down, while doing this then slightly turn it while shakeing it! there are few more ways to do it but to hard to describe how to. ring the racq and get them out again.. it common in hot weather. try it when it cools down aswell tends to be easier! but if she turns it off again then itll prob be stuck again.. will need a new barrel..

[Big_Valven]

Thanks for the help so far. Google has revealed a few pages but not as many as I expected. It was 46 degrees in the shade where she was today and likely even hotter in the car, it probably has a lot to do with it. She is fed up with it and will probably just get the most expensive mobile locksmith possible to do it, I have been trying on my end to help out but she is so fed up with the piece of shit that she isn't listening to reason.

Any more ideas would be great however.

[LS1Grange]

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=112324&highlight=ignition

check this thread out. happened in my VZ a few times when the car was in the hot weather all day.

Check out post #4 that did the trick for me. Always carried a little hammer in the glove box after that.

Hope it works for ya.

[volt]

Happened to my wifes XC Barina (also a 2001) when we still had it.

The problem is (as I understand it) with the lock barrel itself. When it happened to us, the vehicle was out of warranty, but Holden acknowledged that it was a common problem/design flaw and fixed the vehicle free of charge.
Perhaps she could try her luck, and hit up the local Holden dealer where she is to see if they'll help?

[planetdavo]

Most likely the same 92146450 ignition barrel required as TS astra's used.
Wouldn't expect any Holden support for a now 10 year old car.

[ice57l]

the commodore ing barrel problem is a different one to the astra and barina the euro stuff can be modded by pulling it out and at the end of the barrel you will see a ramp and a sliver lock pin( spring loaded) ! and if you watch when you turn the key its ment to go over a little bump and up the ramp but over time it gets a bigger bump and the heat expands iot so it wont turn up it! you acan just grind it flat again and itll work fine ... the commodore, the part of the barrel that gets stuck is the steering lock pin!