Mechanical key wouldn't unlock door
 

Greetings,

I took my Toyota Celica to work this morning, instead of my Z, because I'm picking up a few passengers on the way home.

For this reason I didn't have my Z's Intelligent key with me - I left it inside my house. I DID have my Z's mechanical key with me, because I always carry that around separately, on my key ring.

Just before I got in my Celica, I realized my wallet was still in my Z. So I went into the garage to get it, again without the Intelligent Key nearby. I hadn't yet ever done so (new owner here), but from what I read I thought I could unlock the Z with just the mechanical key.

However, I couldn't do so. The door wouldn't unlock. After inserting the mechanical key in the driver's side door handle, it wouldn't turn to the right. It WOULD turn to the left, and I could hear a click as if the doors were locking, but nothing was happening when I tried to turn it to the right. It didn't seem to want to turn in that direction. The doors remained locked.

What was I doing wrong?

I was already late and so I didn't even bother going back in my house to get the Intelligent Key to unlock the car. I figured I'd be okay for one day without my wallet.

When I get home I'll play around with it some more, but in the meantime, is there anything specifically I should try?

Thanks in advance.

did you purchase your car used? there are instances wehere a dealer would just program a different keyfob and not even cut the key, just saying from experience

Yes, I purchased it used.

Excellent point!

Great point

Extremely good point!

im gonna add to the "great point" wagon...
here goes...
Excellent Point!

This definitely sounds like a logical starting point.

It definitely sounded like it was "re-locking" itself, if that's a word, when I turned it to the left.

Yea, when I get home I'm going to jiggle it and also use just a bit more force in turning it than what I probably initially used.

If the passenger door has a keyhole (I can't remember if it does or not!) I'll also try to unlock it via that door.

If I still can't open it, I suppose I'll just take it back to the dealership I bought it from and ask them if they can help.

Thanks for the replies. I thought maybe I was missing something easy.

If it was actually locking, that is very weird and definitely calls for a trip to the dealer. Even if it isn't working at all, I would take it to your dealer. They shouldn't balk at providing you a working key, but if they do just tell them when you purchase a vehicle, you expect to be able to enter the car even if the key fob battery dies.

The passenger side does not have a keyhole.

Did you get jiggly with it? Now I'm tempted to go and try the mechanical key.

Yep all good, even the windows go UP using the key.

Try it with the key fob nearby and see what happens.

Update: I took it back to the dealership where I bought it (a Mitsubishi Dealership) and they confirmed something is definitely wrong. They also played with it and jiggled it and sprayed the inside of the lock with a lubricant, all to no avail.

But they didn't do any more than this. They said if they got in there and attempted to fix it, it would possibly void the warranty. They said it's still under the new car warranty and that I should take it to a Nissan Dealer. So I made an appointment (which hasn't been confirmed yet) to do this next week.

Jcosta: Yea, I tried that to and the key just won't turn to the right. Something inside the lock is definitely preventing the key from turning in that direction.

Does the mechanical key lock the glove box? If it does then yes the warranty should cover the issue with the door lock.

If it doesn't? What I think happened is that car was traded in from someone who changed out the handle for whatever reason and didn't exchange the lock since they primarily used the fob.

If this is the issue? You would have to pay for either replacement the door lock and glovebox or just having the right key made for both.

EDIT: read your original post more closely and it should be a warranty issue.