new feature on my SVX
 

I noticed today that there is new feature on my car...when I am sitting idling at stop light and my knee accidentally hits the key in the ignition and the key actually comes out, the car is still running...I am thinking this is new feature I didn't know about? You can have an extra key made while car is still running!
:lol:

It will only work if...
 

Hit with the knee!:lol:

My dads caravan does that. ;)

The tumbler in the ignition is shot. The next problem you will have is the car won,t start without turning the ignition a number of times.

OH NO! Mine does that too!!

Earl, I did a search and saw on an old thread that you had this problem at one time. Did it really only cost you $60 to get it fixed, how difficult is it and can anyone do it (you mentioned your locksmith could do it??)

Wouldn't this go away if the Tumblers got a little better lubrication?
Actually, if the system is the same through the years, ignitions don't use Tumblers like home locks, but a series of "Fingers", thats why the keys are double sided.
I would suspect the area has dried up quite a bit over time, and probably has a high dust, and dirt accumulation inside.
A bit of 3 in 1 should clear this up.

3 in 1
 

I would think 3 in 1 would attract dust and accentuate the problem eventually....but thats just me.

This is common on Subarus when the lock cylinder gets worn. My legacy does it and I haven't fixed it because sometimes it's useful to be able to remove the key while the engine is running.

My Ebony does it.
My 84 Brat does it.
My 86 Hatch does it.
Not sure, but my 89 XT6 might do it also.
The biggest cause for this is having to much crap on your keyrings.
The weight on the tumblers is too much and after time it wears them out.
Lighten up people :p

i can vouche for that! my car starts first try MOST of the time, but every once in a while itll just click and do nothing and i have to turn it multiple times for it to start. doesnt bother me much as long as it starts. at least i know why it does it now when i want to get it fixed!

So I should be able to go for awhile without having trouble starting the car ?(referring to Earl's post) I don't mind another quirk, but if its a cheap easy fix, I would go ahead and do that. And I was going to deny that I carry a lot of weight on my keyring but now that I think about it I do now have two extra keys (one very large and fairly heavy) that I have had on the keyring since February. I will follow Turbone's advice and lighten up. Is the clock related to the ignition> My clock has been acting up the past couple of weeks, it isnt' keeping time

as far as i know the clock doesnt have anything to do with it. you should be able to start the car, if it doesnt start just keep turning the key, i usually get the best luck by turning it fast until i hear it wanting to start. it only happens to me every once in a while, not very often though. but if you dont know what it is (like i did when it first happened) it might scare you. i was 45 minutes from home and i thought i was stranded. you shouldnt have any real trouble though. my car usually just doesnt start the first turn when it happens, i turn it again and its fine. i wouldnt be too worried about it, but if it is an easy fix i would go ahead and do it.

with just the knee....
 

What? I was saying that my key falls out too :p