ignition lock cylinder not moving

on a 2002 TC. Placed into park position. When I came back to start the car, after inserting the key, the ignition lock cylinder will not turn/rotate toward the " run " or " start " postion.

I have tried to arm twist the steering wheel, adjust the transmission " park " position and push/shove the vehicle to bump the " park " positon with the transmission. Nothing works.

I read where there is a " release " button on the for the ignition lock cylinger can be used, BUT I can not rotate the switch to the " run " position to try to remove it.....

Any other suggestions...?

I was thinking of going under the auto to try to manually move the transmission cable shifts that might
help with getting the Parking gear positon in sync with the ignition lock cylinder. Any thoughts with this approach...?

Thanks

Sounds like it is in the steering column. Try removing and jiggling the key also. Or there might be another factor, the Lighting Control Module. I had trouble with my lights turning off. I bought a used LCM from ebay. When I installed it the engine started but I could not get it out of park. Apparently the LCM is specific to your model year and I had bought the wrong year. So the LCM controls more than just the lights, it interacts with the gearshift level.When done with jiggling everything, you might think about mating and demating the LCM connector under the dash and to the right of the column. Just something to keep in mind.

OK...thanks.

I tried your suggestions and others.
Checked in with auto repair specialist on steering columns + key locks.

They also suggest the general suggestions mentioned....
including that the " release " access button can not be used if the ingnition lock cylinder
unit can not be placed into the " run " positon. [ Found this in the Haynes manual as well ]

The key lock specialist stated that if all of the above did not work...as final action plan
they could " drill out " the ingnition lock cylinder and replace it....~est $250

The last suggestion was to inspect the " dog ear " plastic key holder over the ingition lock cylinder
to see if it was properly seated and appeared to be in the " home " positon. If not, then the key could not be reaching the botton of the tumbler combinations to release all of the " pins ".

To ensure it's not the keys..try to open the door locks manually.
If they work...then it's probably not the keys but the ingition lock cylinder and/or the " dog ear " plastic key holder not allowing the key to reach the full bottom.

After placing the key into the key slot and ensuring the " dog ear " plastic key holder being located in the " home position "....try to turn the key to the start positon.

If that does not work....try again with the key placement and lightly tap on the top end of the key
with a small hammer or butt end of screwdriver....to give a bit of force but " light "....not hard.
You are attempting to ensure the key has reached the bottom of the key shaft and releasing all of the
" tumbler pins "....

Again, try to turn the key to " run " and onto the " start " position if possible.....

Yes....this worked for me.....

Just moved the auto to the driveway...
Made several repeated attempts to start....
All worked fine.

So I have appeared to have saved a lot of time and several hundred $dollars....

Thanks for the help....
Hope this is helpful to others...!