# Key gets locked in ignition, all electronics shut off, won’t start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/key-gets-locked-in-ignition-all-electronics-shut-off-won-t-start/166080>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** regal, buick\
**Created:** [June 20, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/key-gets-locked-in-ignition-all-electronics-shut-off-won-t-start/166080 "2020-06-20T20:52:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bumzag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9a140/32.png) [@Bumzag](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bumzag)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/key-gets-locked-in-ignition-all-electronics-shut-off-won-t-start/166080/1 "2020-06-20T20:52:10Z")

</div>

I have a 2002 Buick Regal and I can’t figure out why my security system keeps getting tripped and locks the car down. Every so often, although a lot more frequently, I’ll get in the car, put the key in the ignition but when I turn it, it only goes about half a turn and then gets locked. I then cannot remove the key unless I shove a screwdriver into the release slot. Then, the only way to get the car to start is to short out the battery by touching the negative terminal with something metal.

Is it the ignition cylinder? Possibly? Or maybe the chip on the key isn’t being recognized? My key has a small chip with a built in resistor that the ignition has to see to start.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/key-gets-locked-in-ignition-all-electronics-shut-off-won-t-start/166080/2 "2020-06-20T21:04:13Z")

</div>

> [@Bumzag](#):
>
> Then, the only way to get the car to start is to short out the battery by touching the negative terminal with something metal.

Sounds like a loose battery connection at the negative connection.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/key-gets-locked-in-ignition-all-electronics-shut-off-won-t-start/166080/4 "2020-06-20T21:25:48Z")

</div>

Could be. You may not be getting enough current through your failing battery cable.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 2:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/key-gets-locked-in-ignition-all-electronics-shut-off-won-t-start/166080/5 "2020-06-21T02:39:26Z")

</div>

Try cleaning the battery connections using a battery post cleaning brush. There may be corrosion causing the problem. Battery connection problems are one of the most common issues to have and the most easiest to fix.