Key broke off in ignition!!!

6219 Views 11 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Busta, Dec 16, 2005

First300COwner

Discussion Starter · Jan 17, 2005

LOL, Since July I've been having this crank start issue followed by ESP BAS light with my 300C, I've made posts and threads concerning this. Everytime I had an oil change I mentioned the problem to the dealer and their answer was "can't figure it out." So last oil change (mid November 04') I took it to a new dealer and this time they found the issue and were trying to figure it out, but it would take a few days to get to the bottom of it. I didn't have a few days at that time so I had to pick it up early.

Well since July I've noticed my 300C keys were getting a little bent. I thought it was because I was bumping into the desks at work with my keys in my pocket. Well I found out that its from all that crank starting everyday that the keys were getting bent. (by the way I don't bendthe key hard when I crank start, I think the metal is cheap in the keys and so is the starter) Well finally yesterday I was starting the car to leave the mall and snap!

I had the fat end of the key in my hand and the small end in the starter. Thank God I was able to get home. When I got home I used a small screw driver and moved the key hole to the off position and the half of key popped out just enough for me to grab it with the bear hand. What a POS!

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II kings 9:20

· #2 · Jan 17, 2005

The antitheft chip is in the plastic head right?, how were you able to drive or start it without the chip

, this thing does have a chip?. My key shows no signs of bending, maybe you are too strong for your own good, perhaps if you did'nt have to be one of the first 50 owners a later model would have good keys...LOL

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jjs

· #3 · Jan 17, 2005 (Edited)

I can't see how this happens without using too much force. I mean, if you aren't sure about bumping into desks (unknown how hard you bump into them and how often) I am not sure how much torque you are applying to the keys to bend then snap them. Mine feel fine and structurally solid.

Question, do you recall banging into the keychain it is on when the key is in the ignition? Anyone else drive your car? How huge is your keychain (like some people who have rings with more keys than janitors I have seen)?

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ChromeTailfins

· #4 · Jan 17, 2005

Mine occasionally has the cranking/ESP BAS light issue. What did they find/how did they fix it?

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First300COwner

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 17, 2005

ChromeTailfins said:
Mine occasionally has the cranking/ESP BAS light issue. What did they find/how did they fix it?

Well when I called to pick up my car it was after hours and the service manager told me that all the techs are gone and that I wouldn't be able to pick up the car till the next day. I told the service guy that I needed the car because I had to pick up clients the next morning. He told me to hold, and to his suprise about 2 hours after all the techs were supposed to go home, he told me his head tech was still trying to figure it out, and that the tech said that some error codes were stored but he was still trying to figure it out. I told him I'll take it in later because at that time I didn't have the time to be without a 300C, or I should say show up to some clients house in focus rent a car. I will leave it next week for as long is it takes to get it fixed, but Its proven that nobody on this forum can explain it and 4 techs are having problems fixing it.

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First300COwner

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 17, 2005

II kings 9:20 said:
The antitheft chip is in the plastic head right?, how were you able to drive or start it without the chip , this thing does have a chip?. My key shows no signs of bending, maybe you are too strong for your own good, perhaps if you did'nt have to be one of the first 50 owners a later model would have good keys...LOL

The car started then right after the key broke. I was able to drive the car with the half of key in the ignition. The chip part of the key I threw in the center console. I think the starter sent the electric shock to make sure the right key was in the car and then right after that the key broke, just perfect enough to fool the system and I was able to drive it home. I was worried on how to turn it off once I got home. I stuck the other half of the key in the starter and was able to turn it to the off position. With a screw driver I was able to up the stuck half of the key out of the starter. Thank God I have an extra key.

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Northern Rider

· #7 · Jan 17, 2005

First300COwner said:
LOL, Since July I've been having this crank start issue followed by ESP BAS light with my 300C, I've made posts and threads concerning this. Everytime I had an oil change I mentioned the problem to the dealer and their answer was "can't figure it out." So last oil change (mid November 04') I took it to a new dealer and this time they found the issue and were trying to figure it out, but it would take a few days to get to the bottom of it. I didn't have a few days at that time so I had to pick it up early.

Well since July I've noticed my 300C keys were getting a little bent. I thought it was because I was bumping into the desks at work with my keys in my pocket. Well I found out that its from all that crank starting everyday that the keys were getting bent. (by the way I don't bendthe key hard when I crank start, I think the metal is cheap in the keys and so is the starter) Well finally yesterday I was starting the car to leave the mall and snap!

I had the fat end of the key in my hand and the small end in the starter. Thank God I was able to get home. When I got home I used a small screw driver and moved the key hole to the off position and the half of key popped out just enough for me to grab it with the bear hand. What a POS!

The darn things break at the most inconvenient times. And it's just not Chrysler. It seems to happen to all makes and models. Let me give you some examples.

I run a fleet of business vehicles. From time to time, we have to rekey an ignition, a trunk or a door. What a pain.

A few years ago, I was General Manager of a Mazda francishe. Same damn problem with staff and customers. Didn't seem to matter what make or price of car. Could never really figure it out, as I've never broken one, myself.

Did notice, though, that with my staff, it seemed to happen to the same employees all the time.

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First300COwner

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 17, 2005

Nice info Northernrider!

That's a little calming to hear Nothernrider. I had a Honda for 3 years and never had the problem. I know for a fact that If I wouldn't have to crank start the car this would've never happen. I got to get that fixed.

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MBusby1073

· #9 · Jan 19, 2005

First300COwner said:
Well when I called to pick up my car it was after hours and the service manager told me that all the techs are gone and that I wouldn't be able to pick up the car till the next day. I told the service guy that I needed the car because I had to pick up clients the next morning. He told me to hold, and to his suprise about 2 hours after all the techs were supposed to go home, he told me his head tech was still trying to figure it out, and that the tech said that some error codes were stored but he was still trying to figure it out. I told him I'll take it in later because at that time I didn't have the time to be without a 300C, or I should say show up to some clients house in focus rent a car. I will leave it next week for as long is it takes to get it fixed, but Its proven that nobody on this forum can explain it and 4 techs are having problems fixing it.

Where do you work?

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First300COwner

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 19, 2005

Loanplex Mortgage!

Loanplex Mortgage! Loan Officer with a lot of desire to make it in life!

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"C"for me

· #11 · Jan 19, 2005

Key broken? WOW! Takes lots of twist to break a key. Think about it, for it to break that way you'd have to reach past the wheel and hit it on one of the FLAT sides.

I've had many new and used cars in my life, never had a broken key. Wait! I never even HEARD of a broken key, at least in the ignition switch. Now I hear of one in a 300 and more in a fleet of cars/trucks. Dang!

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Busta

· #12 · Dec 16, 2005

hmmmm

ESP/BAS light on here also, anyone have an update on this topic?

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Key broke off in ignition!!!

First300COwner

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II kings 9:20

jjs

ChromeTailfins

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