Chrysler Repair: 99 LHS: ignition lock will not rotate, graphite powder, hair drier

Question
The key will not turn to start the car. The car is parked on level ground, the shift lever is in park and the steering wheel is not locked. In the recent past I noticed I would have to sometimes giggle the key to start the car. It is extremely cold here and my car is sitting out in the weather. I don't know if that has contributed to the problem. I would appreciate your suggestions or recommendations.

Answer
Hi Anne,
On the assumption that it is not a mechanical interlock kind of failure, my inclination would be to try and warm up the steering column with a small electrical heater if you are anywhere near an electrical outlet and have a device like a hair drier or small room heater. If you could obtain some grahite grease (powder form, comes in a plastic tube with spout tip) then you might do well to try to "puff" that into the interface between the lock cylinder and it housing within which it normally rotates. Just hold the tip of spout in the seam and squeeze the sides of the plastic container to accomplish that. Also squirt some graphite powder into the key hole and move the key in and out, as one of the pins inside the lock may be sticking in place and grahite will loosen it up as well.
If you sense that the cylinder is free to move in its surrounding housing but there is some sort of interlocking mechanism that is preventing the rotation then it may be that the safety interlock between the key and steering wheel or gearshift lever is out of adjustment. If you write back let me know if the shift lever is on the steering column of the floor.
Roland