I am at my wits end. Patience is exhausted.

Subject: 1989 XJS coupe. BRG w/ tan leather interior and grey carpet

Bought two years ago from an old couple. The car had been sitting in their garage for 20 years.

Refurbished\replaced all the hoses, plugs, wires, brakes, fluids, shocks, fuel injectors, calipers and hoses, tires, fan,

Recently finished all the electrical connections and was ready to bleed ABS rear brakes (special Teves ABS bleed procedure) and test start the car.

All was in order and ready to go. Inserted key into ignition and will not turn. Tried spare key, same thing. Jiggled steering wheel to no effect.

NOTE: Interesting that moving the key up or down makes the auto should strap tracks activate.

When I have moved the car previously and when we tried to bleed the brakes last winter the keys worked with no issue.

Only thing that is different is that drivers side lap belt has been removed (would not extend) since tried to bleed brakes last winter. However there is no electrical connection from that belt assembly. Only two electrical connections under the seat are for the heated seats and the seat buzzer.

I put WD 40 into the key lock assembly, nothing changed.

I am literally at the proverbial WTF point. Any suggestions (including possibly burning it) are welcome.

 

Not sure WD40 will help much, sounds like the steering lock pawl is stuck and anything you put into the key hole isn't getting to that.

Have you removed the plastics yet ? I take it that the steering wheel can be rocked aka it moves a small amount ?

When the key is turned it needs to release and retract the pawl and is sounds like that bit is 'stuck' and stopping the key turning, it sounds like it is turning a bit - but I'm not sure what you mean by the "auto should tracks activate" the seatbelts are nothing to do with this, the 87 isn't that sophisticated.

Pop the plastics off and try some polite taps near the column / bottom of the column switch where they meet whilst holding pressure on the key. Your options are limited depending on the tools you have to hand because these things are no fun to remove from the column in situ - I call it footwell gymnastics which is no fun at all over that sill ....

 

My first thought is the same as BenKenobi's, it's the steering lock. Try moving the steering wheel while turning the key.

My second thought is NEVER use WD40 for pretty much anything, but particularly this application. As the petroleum distillates in WD40 evaporate, what is left behind turns to a gummy mess that attracts dirt and will foul up the mechanism.

 

It might help to raise the front wheels off the ground, so the steering mechanism is unloaded.

 

Thanks to all.
Turns out I am an idiot. Was trying the wrong set of keys, actually two sets. Didn't realize there was a third set hiding.

BTW .... this is an '89, only year with the automatic shoulder belts. Pain in the a@#. Might consider converting to the 3 point set up at some point if I find an appropriate colored donor car.

I currently have four cars: an '86, '87, '89 and '90. The BRG '86 will be for sale once I fix the wiper motor (no power at the plug or fuse box #9 and #11 fuse) power issue.
The '90 needs a little body work and new paint but is a very nice car. Ice blue with dark blue interior.

 

Maaaaaaate.

Ya let the beer fridge get too low, it happens.

Well found.

I would NOW get some Silicone Spray, and Inject into that key slot, putting rags on the carpet, thus flushing, as best you can, that WD40 goo out.

Good luck.

 

Ya think that makes you special around here

I once tried the right key in the wrong car in an airport car park ... and it took me a while to figure that out ... once upon a time the wife and I had the same model of car though mine was a higher spec ... reversed hers into a wall ... apparently you need to have parking sensors before you get the beep beep beep instead of the crunch - and yes my car had them hers didn't.

How oft have I convinced myself that what is so is so - only to be proven wrong in a big way later .... older I get the worse it seems to get ... like I know I put 'it' in here only to find 'it' someplace else, hunting high and low for that 10mm only to find the damn thing in my pocket ....

I'd go with Grants 'need more alcohol' suggestion, though I don't need many excuses to follow that advice.

 

Turns out I am an idiot
Ya think that makes you special around here

Hey!!!! I resemble that remark!!!!

 

Several years back one of my schoolbus drivers called me and said this key won't fit this bus. I said Pharis it has to, as it's the key you used to get where you are. I'm telling you it won't fit! I made several suggestions, have you got some of your personal keys, and mixed them up? Nope not that. Hes getting more and more frustrated by the minute. So I asked him which bus he was on. He said # 12, I told him turn the key upside down and try it again. Well I'll be danged he said. # 12 was the only bus where the key went in with the teeth pointing up. All 19 of the other buses they pointed down. He was my Elementary Principal and while he was highly educated. He was a 1/2 load short on common sense.

Jack