PLEASE HELP! My car locked up!

[myth]

Ok, I parked it yesterday and locked it with the remote, today I unlocked it with the remote and opened the pasageer door. I removed the door panel and went to instal a speaker... I tried to start my car and the key wont turn! The stering weel is also locked along with the breaks!!!!!!! Any ideas? Its a 1999 dodge avenger and has a security system built in... (imobolizer)

[mnet674]

Try just waggling the wheel while trying to turn the key, that opens most jammed steering locks, but other than that its possible you made the electrical system angry by messing round with the wiring somewhere. Did you disconnect the battery before fiddling?

[myth]

Did you disconnect the battery before fiddling?

[XTR]

try disconecting the battery and power it all back up after 30 minutes or so? might reset it all.. ya never know...

[Shad]

Sounds to me like the steering lock is on (as mentioned already), so just put the key in and at the same time as trying to turn the key to position 1 move the steering wheel left and right.

If you pressed the brake pedel at any point while the engine wasn't running, you will have emptied the vacuum in the system which causes the brake pedal to go rock hard and very very stiff (this is what it would be like if you lost engine power and had to stop ). This behaviour will dissapear once the engine is running.

Hope that helps

Oh, and in future, disconnect the battery when working on anything electrical!

[myth]

Thanks guys, I got it fixed now! I had to disconect the batery and step down on the break for 10 mins to reset the security system.

[Donny John]

Must remember that