How bizzare! I just got home from work andI have to move my 760 to get my 240 in! I put the key in and the dang thing won't even turn. It's not freezing and it worked fine all day. Is there somthing else I should look at? I put the car in park and took it out of park and put it back again but no go. I am thinking it is the key but the locks all turn fine. Anyone know what to do? I would hate to have it towed to my local Volvo dealer because they are certified but not very qualified based on past experinces. Thanks in advance!

Not Bizzare. On my 940, the key will occassionally NOT come out! This is due I believe to dirt. A few blasts of WD40 (protect the area with a cloth) and the key works in and out just great. Also, try to wiggle the steering column when inserting or removing the key - the steering wheel latch sometimes gets stuck. It's a nuisance but you shouldn't have to tow it!

I just had the same problem with the door lock. The key worked fine in all but driver side door. I pulled the interior door panel sprayed lock and latch mechanisms with CRC's answer to WD40 and gradually worked the thing back into operating condition. I was sure there would be a part jammed or fallen off...but no...it was just sized up from lack of lube.

I'm with Mittenhed, This happens to me sometimes, just enough to make you panic. try turning the key and at the same time turn the wheel from one side then the other. Sometimes the steering lock pinches.you might have to be a bit firm on twiggling the wheel.

I also have a buncha Volvos in the yard, and sometimes try the key for car "A" in the ignition of car "B" cause I have a buncha Volvo keys on my key ring.

The key looks and fits fine, but won't work in the wrong ignition.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Your 760 has a computer-cut key to provide for better theft deterence. Good plan and everything’s fine until you get wear on either the key or the waffers within the cylinder.

The key will likely not be removable without damaging the waffers within the cylinder so the cylinder and key have to be removed as a unit.

To get at the cylinder, you first remove the plastic works above and below the steering column. You’ll see a small pin-size hole on the top part of the cylinder housing. Push in a pin all the while pulling on the key/cylinder. A problem I encountered here is that in order to remove the cylinder from the steering column, the key must be in either the accessory position or the off position(I can’t remember which, it’s been 3 years). If yours is not in that right position, you may have to resort to a hefty pair of pliers to turn the key. That will effectively wreck the waffers within the cylinder.

I was able to get a new key from Volvo and found a locksmith who does work on fancy Lexus-type keys (computer cut) and he was able to replace the waffers.

He gave me a ‘thanks but you’re too late’ bit of advice: after 10 years, replace the key. Any bit of wear on them and they bind up the waffles.

Good luck!

Did you try wiggling the steering wheel? Sometimes the steering lock fetches 'er up.