Ignition cylinder? Ack! Or . . . something else?

[King_V]

Okay, so, naturally, Monday morning, freezing, getting ready to go to work and . . key doesn't turn in the ignition.

Great. Just great. I used the car yesterday, no problems. Today, won't turn. I tried spraying some lithium grease in there - no good.

So, my questions are:

1) Is it possible there's something other than the ignition cylinder that's causing it? If so, what, and how do I check for it?

2) Is the ignition cylinder something that's easy to fix? I see screws to (presumably) remove the lower half of the steering column cover, but I've never gone beyond changing an ignition switch itself (NOT the ignition cylinder) on an 88 Thunderbird.

Thanks in advance. And hey, if anyone's in my area and can do this job on incredibly short notice, let me know how much you want for it!

EDIT: you all have NO idea how tempting it was to find a big-ass wrench and force it to turn...

[slack]

Are you sure it's not the steering wheel lock binding it up? I know with mine sometimes when that happens if you turn the steering wheel hard either left or right it frees up enough tension to turn the key in the ignition.

[King_V]

Gave that a try... jiggled the gear selector, made sure the steering lock wasn't binding against a stop, etc. No go.

I'm going to give it a try again a little later, just in case something freed up. I don't think the ignition switch itself can cause the immovability that I'm seeing, but I'm not sure.

[sly]

I'd pull the ignition switch just to check (I'd leave the wires connected as that connector can be a bastard). Then I would try tapping the keyway "wings" with a light hammer or box end wrench with the key in. If the keyed pins are hanging up, tapping about a dozen or so times might get them to rest in place. If that works, the key pins are either in need of lube or damaged. I had to lube mine with wd40 initially to "clean" them and then with proper lube to get them to work right in my 88 once. Haven't had an issue since.

[gadget73]

Try and get it to turn. replacing the cylinder if it won't turn is a lot more difficult. To replace it with it working, turn it one click forward and press the small pin just inside the wings and it will slide out. Getting it out without i turning involves a lot of cursing and hoping you don't break something thats important.

[King_V]

Well, I have taken the covers off the column and determined that...

1) It is most definitely NOT the switch. It is the ignition lock cylinder.

2) My (feeble) attempts to drill out the retaining pin more or less resulted in the thing laughing at me and telling me that I could fuck right off.

Yeah, I don't quite have the steady hand to keep the drill straight on it rather than slipping off to the sides, etc.

A shame, I can start the car with the ignition switch separated from the actuator rod, but of course still wouldn't be able to get the car out of Park.



So, um, remember my edit from the original post about how tempting it was to get a big ass wrench and force the thing to turn? Uh, exactly how viable is that technique?

[sly]

it might work, you will break stuff. Just hope that the lock pins are the parts that break and not the casing for the ignition cylinder (which might happen). Typically, grabbing the wings will just break them from the cylinder. Using a LARGE flat blade screwdriver shove in the keyhole and wrenching that works better. If it does manage to turn, slot it to run and then push the pin to pull the works out and replace. Sometimes using a slide hammer will work, but that tends to break the casing as well.

[King_V]

Eh, I've decided I'd rather not risk anything with any brute force methods, tempting as those methods may be.

And now I found out AAA would partially cover a locksmith! D'oh! Wish I knew that yesterday, I'd be driving today. Driving to work, but still...