Key frozen in ignition of Mazda 3..

10

Asked by Guru9KJ6SZ Jun 01, 2022 at 08:07 AM about the 2012 Mazda MAZDA3 GS-SKY

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

My Mazda 3/2012 wouldn't allow the key to come out of ignition after driving.  
Had to leave key in over night.  Next day holiday, car started and drove it, but
key wouldn't come out.  In morning car battery was dead, had a box hooked
up to car, and friend was able to remove key.  Mechanic came, removed
battery to test, low voltage, so replaced battery.  Was it strictly a battery
issue, or is there an ignition issue, key fob issues, both?

3 Answers

157,505

Many newer vehicles will have the key get stuck in the ignition lock if the battery goes dead. This is because there's an electronic solenoid that, when you shift out of Park, prevents you from turning the key to the lock position when you're driving. Doing so would lock the steering wheel and cause a crash. How this is accomplished is when you shift out of Park the solenoid is deenergized. So when the battery is dead there's no power at the solenoid, just like if you have shifted out of Park. Hope that helps! Jim

1 people found this helpful.
10

I was thinking that it was something like that, so just the way the car acts when the battery is going bad, or dead. Thanks for that explanation.

1 people found this helpful.

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