Steering wheel locked and key will not turn 2000 jeep grand cherokee

SOURCE: 2000 jeep grand cherokee- ignition

I had the same problem today - January 30th 2009. what i did was spray some WD40 in the cylinder and sprayed the key with WD40, then inserted the key in the ignition, then "lightly" and i mean "lightly" tapped the end of the key with the end of a wrench (my brass hammer was not in reach) 3 or 4 times. removed the key and then inserted again - then "all was well. the ignition turned, car started, and i will now wait till the next time something goes wrong with the car...

Gene

SOURCE: steering wheel is locked on 2001 jeep grand cherokee laredo

try gently rocking wheel back an forth while wiggling the key

SOURCE: Ingition appears to be jammed on 2000 jeep grand cherokee laredo

wriggle the steering wheel left to right while turning the key!
Cheers Rob

SOURCE: I have a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicle

sounds like the key is either worn down to where the ridges in the key wont push the tumblers inside the key lock cylinder into their proper place to move the cylinder into the starting position. Or your steering colum is locked and the wheel is moving freely as if it were not. So your solution would be to either have an expert look at it (estimated cost: 200$ low/400$high) or you can attempt to fix it yourself.
should you choose the "I'll fix it myself" method....try getting a new key made at a hardware store since keys wearout over time (ie:10years of turning that old key), this may solve the problem right away if the ridges are just worn on the key. Or the hard way, you need to get a phillips screwdriver and some jewelers tools and an 8mm or 10mm wrench/rachet+socket to disconnect the battery, then underneath the steering colum just under the ignition is a hole in the colum shroud/cover, from there you can disconnect the ignition key lock cylinder (the thing you put your key into). once you've removed the cylinder from the steering colum you should test your key again to see if you can turn the cylinder outside of the colum if you cannot then buy a new ignition key lock cylinder for about 15$-30$...problems solved.

SOURCE: My sreering wheel is locked and the ignitionwont turn over

IF this is the same problem as in the Dodge Caravan's, then put the key in the ignition and tap it with a hammer, big wrench, etc. Not too hard! My caravan does the same thing and I can jam the key in the lock and get it to turn fine. Eventually you will have to replace the igintion lock cylinder.