alright i searched and i couldnt find the answer.

today i was taking out my gauge cluster to swap out the bulbs.
i never got done because something was holding it back so i decided to put everything back together.

i didnt mess with the ignition at all.

then i started my car and drove out for about 5 minutes.

when i get back i try to take my keys out and i see they arent in the ignition but on the floor and the car is still running.
so i stick the key back in to turn off the car and it wont go all teh way in but it did shut off the engine but not the car, my time display was still up and my cd player was still playing.
then i used my audi key to start the car and it worked.

so does all this mean i need a new ignition switch or wtf is wrong?

 

Mine does this too, welcome to the old car club.


When keys and ignition switches are worn, you can remove the key while the switch is in the on position (both my pickup and rx7 have this "feature".

I think it was close to 2 years ago that my key first fell out in an autoX, I was really worried, but it turned out that the worst part of it was my friends using the car and then leaving the key in the accy position since the engine was stopped and the key came out. I had a dead battery a lot.

Don't worry about it, if you have the key completely in the ignition, then it will turn the ignition to off. Your ignition is still in accessory. If you shut the switch clear to off, the key will still be required to get it to run.

If you leave it on accessory, other than having a dead battery, anyone can start your car with a screw driver, pocket knife, etc.

 

I had this issue with one of my keys, but my new rotor key doesn't do this. Since that's the case (at least for me) it must just be the worn corners on older keys.

 

well the car wont get out of the accesory position.
and yeh i was doing a little spirtied drive and it fell out.

so is it either the key or the switch?

 

Gunk in the lock most likely. If a worn key could turn a lock, thieves would have a hay day. Plus gunked up FC locks are quite common. Happens to the doors too. Long term solution is spraying in a dry lubricant every once in a while (e.g., graphite; not wet lube like WD-40/oil/etc.). But looks like you need to clean or replace yours. Or continue as-is. I think you've hit the worst already; anything being able to turn the lock.

 

Why not just use a dab of oil or light grease? I've done that on external locks and it works wonders, just dip your key in oil, sex up the key cylinder with it, and it should be good to go for quite a while. Not a guaranteed fix, but I've had it cure sticky/stubborn locks more than once.

 

alright ill try that tommorrow. if that doesnt work, looks like im getting a new ignition switch.

 

Oil can evaporate or attract dirt, making your locks gunk up all over again. That's why you use dry lube. Maybe you can try cleaning them with a light oil (like WD-40). It'll dissolve and penetrate better. And hopefully it'll evaporate fast (lighter oil should I think), so you could apply some dry lube later.