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2003 9-5 aero sedan, auto trans. I took a quick jaunt to the corner store about a mile away. When I came back out, I tried to start the car, the key wouldn't budge. It was stuck in the "Lock" position. It did this once before, earlier in the week, and I figured it was the theft deterrent system being wonky so I pressed the unlock / lock on the key and that did the trick. This time, no dice, the buttons did absolutely nothing. Dead. The key battery is fairly fresh too. I should also add that the display has the "Service Theft Alarm" message - and has since I bought the car almost two years ago. My wife's 9-5 Arc wagon has that message too but the ignition has never locked up.
I whipped out the smartphone and pulled up a search on "Saab 9-5 key won't turn". There is one thread here on it and several in other forums, mostly for 9-3s. There are all kinds of attempted remedies from oiling, to hitting with a hammer. The first thing I tried was pulling fuse #17 and putting it back in after 30 seconds to reset the system. Nope. Then I got out my electrical tool box (I have lots of tools in the trunk. I do service work) and the can of Caig DeOxIt D-5 contact cleaner. I took off the ignition cylinder cover, unplugged the module on the cover and squirted contact cleaner in the hole and around the cylinder. I put it all back together, put the key in and worked it around. It wouldn't turn at first. After working the key just right it turned. I drove home and parked. I shut it down, got out and tried to lock it with the key. It didn't work, still dead both lock, unlock and the trunk release. After coming inside, sitting at the PC for 15-20 minutes and reading threads on the topic I decided to check it again and, low and behold, the key's lock and unlock buttons work and the key works in the ignition. It doesn't work perfectly freely though. There is a hint of resistance and sometimes something doesn't spring out of the way quite right and I can't get the key in at all. I discovered this after taking off the cover and shooting a lot more cleaner in there while sitting in the driveway.
I am very hesitant to put oil in there. I was once told by a locksmith that it is not good at all to put oil in a lock. If anything, dry lube only. I might try powdered graphite but I hesitate to do that too. Time for a new lock cylinder? But why would this affect the function of the key's remote lock - unlock function?
Being a service car, it needs to start reliably. I often drive out of state, quite a distance.
I whipped out the smartphone and pulled up a search on "Saab 9-5 key won't turn". There is one thread here on it and several in other forums, mostly for 9-3s. There are all kinds of attempted remedies from oiling, to hitting with a hammer. The first thing I tried was pulling fuse #17 and putting it back in after 30 seconds to reset the system. Nope. Then I got out my electrical tool box (I have lots of tools in the trunk. I do service work) and the can of Caig DeOxIt D-5 contact cleaner. I took off the ignition cylinder cover, unplugged the module on the cover and squirted contact cleaner in the hole and around the cylinder. I put it all back together, put the key in and worked it around. It wouldn't turn at first. After working the key just right it turned. I drove home and parked. I shut it down, got out and tried to lock it with the key. It didn't work, still dead both lock, unlock and the trunk release. After coming inside, sitting at the PC for 15-20 minutes and reading threads on the topic I decided to check it again and, low and behold, the key's lock and unlock buttons work and the key works in the ignition. It doesn't work perfectly freely though. There is a hint of resistance and sometimes something doesn't spring out of the way quite right and I can't get the key in at all. I discovered this after taking off the cover and shooting a lot more cleaner in there while sitting in the driveway.
I am very hesitant to put oil in there. I was once told by a locksmith that it is not good at all to put oil in a lock. If anything, dry lube only. I might try powdered graphite but I hesitate to do that too. Time for a new lock cylinder? But why would this affect the function of the key's remote lock - unlock function?
Being a service car, it needs to start reliably. I often drive out of state, quite a distance.