Key wont turn ignition

[Jeffo]

OK i am stranded at work now. I turned off the key when i got to work this morning and now it will not turn again. I cannot get it out of the "off" position. I have tried to wiggle the steering wheel and it is not caused by that. So i was planning on changing the ignition switch, but i have never had a steering column apart before. I have tried to do some searches for this, but i cannot find any instructions on where to do it. anyone got any ideas?

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

In order to replace the ignition, you will need the key in the current ignition to turn it to the run position. From there, there is a little hole on the bottom of the steering column. You need to take a nail or something, put it in the hole, and depress the little locking mechanism. Once depressed, pull on the key and the ignition switch should come right out.

 

[jthomas68]

This sometimes happens to the 92 and it's the ears on the switch that don't line up right. So you might want to check and see if the ears are spinning free and move them around until the key turns.

 

[Jeffo]

There is two problems with that though, I can't get the key to turn at all. and when it was starting the car you could pull the key out and the car would continue to run. in other words you did not have to return the key to the off position to remove it from the lock.

i dont know if this matters, but i forgot to mention that the "wing" peice is broken off of the ignition lock as well so it is just the bare lock looking part.

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

when you say "wing", that is what shoBOOM is referring to when he said ears...


When my "ears" piece broke, I had trouble with getting the key to turn. I replaced my ignition switch and all was good. You may be to play around with the "ears" piece to get it to line up right to get the key to turn.

 

[Jeffo]

I went out over lunch and tried again for about 30 minutes. the "ears' peice it really busted up. I am pretty sure i am going to have to replace the whole unit, which i am find with, but is it possible without getting it to turn at all? i will probibly have to take the whole column apart won't i?

 

[SuperG]

In replacing the ignition switch, is this something you pick up at Autozone? My ignition switch will turn a lot without the key such that the door chime will come on until I wiggle the ears a little, but I still need the key to start the car...

 

[Jeffo]

it is listed on autozones website for like $16 if i am looking at the correct one.

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Yea, I got a new one at autozone I do believe....

As far as I know, you need to have the key in and turned to the on position. This ensures you are the owner (or at least have their keys). Otherwise, you could go buy a $16 ignition at autozone, hope in a SHO, pull the old ignition, pop the ignition in, and start it up with the new key.

 

[fred79]

so are you saying buy turning the key to the on position and depressing this locking mechanism you can remove the lock or just the switch?

I have mixmatched door and ignition locks and no key for the doors so this would be usefull to me.

 

[shoson]

Here's how to buy the right version of the ignition switch so you don't have mis-matched keys. If you buy the right one, you just have to have the door cuts cut on the key. http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/mod...e=article&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&sid=131

 

[Jeffo]

i got my ignition switched out today and i also talked to a locksmith about having the door teeth put on the ignition key. in another post on here it was stated that the first 6 teeth were for the ignition and the last 4 were for the door. this locksmith told me tha the first 6 are for the ignition and the last 4 plus the #6 tooth are for the door. this meens that there is one shared tooth.