Got a 2000 Town & Country van, drove it home and shut it off and now the key won't turn from the off position to either accessory or to start. Tried another key and same thing. It does not help to wiggle the steering wheel. The wheel was not locked at first but has now gotten moved far enough to now be locked. ?????????

Try shifting to reverse then back to park.

Wiggle the steering wheel and make sure that the front wheels aren't jammed against a curb so that the steering is free to release.

Most likely you have a tumbler stuck in the key cylinder...It is fairly common, especially once it gets cold
Pull the key out about a 1/8 inch and take something slightly heavy (small ball peen hammer) and tap the key back in the cylinder with moderate force, this in most cases will unstick the tumbler for the time being.(you may need to do it more than once) however you need to remove it, take the tumblers out and clean it and/or replace it if it is worn bad as it will happen again.
DO NOT start spraying crap in it, that will just make it worse, It needs to be in the run position to remove it so you will need to get it to turn, any other removal method risks damaging the column.

As the key is inserted and removed over it`s life, both the key and tumblers wear, all that crap builds up and they can stick, the other issue is, as the key is inserted it will rub on the cylinder and create a small lip at the slot that the tumblers ride in, same result, tumbler sticks.

Just my

Rick

Thanks!

changed my lock and key twice since new.... mine is a 1997....common problem...

Did you accidently put the wrong key in? On my 2001 Stratus (gery key) if I put my 2002 Town and Country key in (grey key) and try to start, the key will not turn. If after removing the minvan key, I put the correct stratus key in, the lock still wont turn. Security thing.

After awhile, the correct ket will work. Must be on a timer.

Havent tried the stratus key in the minvan, wond if it would do the same?

I ask this because many of us have more than one mopar and if the keys are alike, its easy to put the wrong key in.

Doc.

Quote:

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the lock still wont turn. Security thing.

After awhile, the correct ket will work. Must be on a timer.

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Nope...no such thing....the actual physical key cylinders on these are very basic things....no trick timers or locks or anything of the sort
You are on your way to experiencing the very thing this post was about....you have a cylinder wearing, due to a obvious different "cut" on your other key, it is pushing one or more tumblers past the "normal" range of movement that the correct key uses and it has them catching on a burr or thickened lubricant that is used in the cylinder.

Rick