BuickMan Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 All of sudden I put the key in the ignition and it wouldn't turn. The steering wheel was straight and transmission was in Park. After playing with it for 20 minutes it finally turned. Anybody know the cause and fix for this problem? Is there a chip in the key that went bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 turn the steering wheel back and forth while trying to turn the key..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickMan Posted January 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 tried that and it didn't work. I hope the linkage didnt finally wear out. While I was struggling with it for 20 minutes it went into Acessory a few times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickMan Posted January 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 (delete) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExZion Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Mine did this with my new key but worked fine with my dads key and he had the heavily used key.. all i could come up with was that the ignition is warn to that key.... Switched keys and i never have that problem agein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickMan Posted January 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 I thought it was the key but it isnt worn at all. I have been using the same key since I bought car. The guy I bought it from only had 1 set of keys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExZion Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Ok well then my guess would be the ignition it's self.... maby you have a stuck pin or a broken pin spring... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 try spraying it with some sort of lube???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickMan Posted January 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 I'll try some spray. Since this never happened to me before I thought spraying in the key hole might damage the ignition wires. Can I use some WD-40? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExZion Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 you should be able to just dont go crazy with it. better yet spray the key and insert it a couple of times..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 I'll try some spray. Since this never happened to me before I thought spraying in the key hole might damage the ignition wires. Can I use some WD-40? the only wire near the key is for the buzzer to let you know you left the key in the ignition. so You don;t have a wire risk. take a rag, hold it beneeth the key hole to collect ecxxess and spray away, let penetrate and then push the key in and out everal times and see what happeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 are you using the right key? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 The ignition switch itself could be jammed. Drop down the column and remove the switch (you can't miss it, it's a big white "thing" bolted to the top side of the column.) Insert the key and try turning it again. If it turns, then the ignition switch is siezed. If it doesn't, then your lock cylinder is FUBAR (or possibly the linkage running inside the column...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supreme Cutlass Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Instead of spray I would use graphite lubricant, all my locks were doing that when I first got the car, grapite cleared them all up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Try getting new keys cut from the VIN at the dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TurboSedan Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 i'd try CRC Quick-Dry electrical contact cleaner before spraying anything else in there. that should clean it out really good before you spray any type of lube. if that doesn't work just replace the switch. btw, if anyone can tell me what goes into replacing the ignition switch that would be great. my ignition key broke off inside and now i don't need a key anymore. anyone could drive off with my car right now :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prospeeder Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Ford stopped keys from braking by putting narrow keys and big tabs on the lock cylinder for you to grab and turn instead of the actual key to turn like GMs Graphite would be somthing to use also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Ford stopped keys from braking by putting narrow keys and big tabs on the lock cylinder for you to grab and turn instead of the actual key to turn like GMs My key is like that. My dad's Ranger was like that, but gotta love Ford, the little cylinder with the tabs broke off and we were left with the little tiny key to turn the ignition. My fingers hurt like a mother after driving that truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 btw, if anyone can tell me what goes into replacing the ignition switch that would be great. my ignition key broke off inside and now i don't need a key anymore. anyone could drive off with my car right now :oops:Just to clear the confusion, what you've described that needs replacing on your car is the ignition lock cylinder and not the ignition switch. If you had a 94-96 "saginaw" column, I could help you out, but I've never torn an 88-93 column apart so I have no idea how to replace one of those lock cylinders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteMonteZZZ Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 Ok well then my guess would be the ignition it's self.... maby you have a stuck pin or a broken pin spring... Only 70s-E90s Fords used Pin Tumbler automotive locksets. All others are wafer-tumblers. I'd get a key cut by VIN at the dealership and start there. GM Wafer locksets dont' typically go bad. Post a picture of your key if you can - I can let you know how worn it is and whether it's probably lock related or column-related. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pontiac6KSTEAWD Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 I had this problem on my TGP. The Keys had been cut slightly wrong befor I got the car. And they seller no longer had the original. I eventually replaced the ignition lock. Got it for 3 bucks out of a 92 STE. Works flawless. And takes all of 15 mins to replace, at least for me. Its really easy.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pontiac6KSTEAWD Posted January 22, 2006 Report Share Posted January 22, 2006 i'd try CRC Quick-Dry electrical contact cleaner before spraying anything else in there. that should clean it out really good before you spray any type of lube. if that doesn't work just replace the switch. btw, if anyone can tell me what goes into replacing the ignition switch that would be great. my ignition key broke off inside and now i don't need a key anymore. anyone could drive off with my car right now :oops: I can do it, but cant tell you how to do it LOL. its just one of those things I can do in my sleep without thinking about it... You can PM me and I might be able to walk you thru it on the telephone if you want.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afubar Posted January 23, 2006 Report Share Posted January 23, 2006 I don't want to bum you out, but I had a problem like this with my 94 cutty. At first I had to jiggle the key around and it would finally go past accessory and start, then one day I started the car and couldn't get it to turn back the other way to shut off. Not fun. Had to have the iginition replaced to the tune of 220 bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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