hey guys how hard is it to change the ignition switch? mine is on its last leg.it will lock properly, and will ony start with the key or go backward into accesory pos. with a key but then you can pull the key out and it will still play radio operate windows etc and if engine is running it is drivable. i drove home from work today with the keys on my belt loop....25 miles or so....also ps pump worked fine and wheel didnt lock either.....also how much do they cost?

I would have to go out and look for sure, but most Fords are really easy.
After you buy a new one you put the key in the old ignition and turn it to the on possition. Then look under the key and there should be a little hole you will have to poke something small into the hole. You should be able to pull the whole switch out. Then you just put in the new one.
Ford will want information on the key which last time I changed the one out in our work van I didn't know. I just wanted the key since we used the old key for the door locks.
They aren't all that bad as long as they have the hole in the bottom.
Good luck.

info on the key? whats up with that and why does ford want it? it is my key to my truck. does mine have this hole? we have the same model explorer.

O.K. I went out and looked and you will have to take the plastic cover off before you can get to the hole. It is just a little hole under the switch.
What I was trying to say is on our work van there was different ignitions and they had different cuts if I remember and they wanted to know which one I needed?? Since I didn't care about matching the door locks it didn't matter to me. They may have more then one ignition I'm not sure I'm not sure on that part.
Hope this helped.

perry how hard does it appear to be to take of the cover? and if i go to the local ford dealer will they be able to match my key for the same price as a regular one? if not i am cool with 2 keys. what am i looking at for price?

Not sure what the key would cost. You would just have to call I guess.
I would have to go look at the plastic cover, but most of the time they aren't to bad, but I haven't had a Explorer off before. I've done Ford vans, Escorts, Contour, and Bronco II's and they weren't that bad.
If I have time tomorrow I could look if you haven't gotten something figured out by then.

P.S. By the way, Teri liked the Perry(Teri's Perry)

oops spelled her name wrong sorry teri.....thanks perry (teri's perry) hehehe;) ill check it out at work....

I had to have my ignition switch rebuilt last year. I took it out myself. In order to get it out I had to take the steering wheel off and then remove the plastic steering column cover to get to the ignition. Then there is a hole you have to insert a screrwdriver or small object into to get the ignition to release and come out.

I suggest you go to a competent lock shop and have them rebuild the ignition for you. It cost me only $15 for them to rebuild it so I kept the same key. I went to Ford before and they would only sell the entire set of door locks and ignition, not just the ignition. The whole thing would have cost over $150!! I was glad it only cost me $15 and it still works great.

I have a 91 so there should not be much difference.

what is meant by a competent lock shop? a local locksmith that does house doors or machine shop or?

Brian, I was just wondering why you had to take the steering wheel off?
Most of them that I have seen and done you don't have to do that. It takes some time but you can get the plastic off on most of them I think.

He means take it to a good key locksmith.

They did the explorer ignition differently. You do have to take the wheel off and It's a pain to do. I'm not at home now, but I can post the method out of my Haynes manual later today showing how to do it. I did it in my 92, but it definitely isn't fun

I replaced the entire ignition key tumbler assembly on my 94 for ~$25 and I didn't have to remove the wheel...

ok, i dont really care if it is the same key because i have an alarm w/ power door locks so i never use the key anyways....ch777 how hard was it?

Well, I just tried to post my manual, but not only can't I send it to photopoint (cant find the server) but my pix are fuzzy too! It does have a contradiction in it. In one section it says that you have to remove the steering wheel for '94 and down (it seems to imply only with tilt wheel) and in the next section it says you have to remove the steering wheel in 95 and up. ???? Maybe if you don't have tilt in a 94 and down you don't need to take the wheel off.

ill try it later. it apears that i might not need to take it off. i have a 1994 and the tilt whell

Remove the plastic upper and lower steering column covers. The rest is just as Perry mentioned above. There's a small hole on the bottom of the column. I stuck an ice pick up there and the whole tumbler assembly came out. Take it to a locksmith and they can re-key the new tumbler so you don't need a separate key for the door & ignition. Total was $40 ($25 for new assy., $15 to re-key). MUCH cheaper than the dealership.

BTW, I have a 94 w/tilt...

chh777 how hard was it to remove the plastic things? upper and lower? lower just looks like it unscrews but upper?

Lower is screwed into upper by two screws. Nothing else holds upper in place.

ok thats cool thanks...but the upper looks as if it is one piece...does it need to actually be removed or just unscrewed from bottom?

Just remember after you get the plastic off when you get ready to take the key out it has to be in the "ON POSTION" Turn the key until the position of starting the vehicle. Then you can push the pin in.

yup perry(teri's perry);). got that part awhile ago....thanks though

Oops, I have not kept up with this thread.

Perry, I had to take the wheel off because mine is a tilt and the plastic column covers would not come off with the steering wheel on. I tried believe me. To get the wheel off is a pain in the butt at least the first time.

So what you are saying is you got it out O.K. and didn't even tell us?? I'm hurt! LOL

Originally posted by CHH777
I replaced the entire ignition key tumbler assembly on my 94 for ~$25 and I didn't have to remove the wheel...

chh777 said he didnt have to take it off....what the *&$#?

so what is the outcome??
I need to replace this on my 94 ex and I am still wondering do you have to take the wheel off or not?
If so I'm not sure is I could do it or not? Where do you get the new ignition switch from?
Thanks Blake

I know on my 91 with Tilt I had to remove the wheel to get the plastic thing...Sounds like if you have tilt, the wheel needs to come off...If you don't, then there may be a way to get it off without removal of the wheel. Good luck!

I replaced the lock cylinder and ingnition switch on my thunderbird and just the cylinder on the explorer.

Agree with VairKing that if you have tilt you need to take the steering wheel off to be able to take the column shroud off. You can rent a wheel puller at just about any part store for free. Removing the wheel only take 5 minutes.

Lock cylinder's are available at any part store.

i have a tilt wheel and took of the column shroud with a bit of force..... didnt break it either

go to autozone its only 15.00

ok guys..... i finally got the part (i know its a year later :rolleyes: ) there is no plastic on the column at all... and i still cant figure it out.. the plastic it did have, well, i cut it off or pried and it came off..... i still cant figure out how to do it... maybe i will go out and give it another look....

ok just came back in... where is this special hole where a 3mm piece needs to go? the hole underside of my lock cyclinder has no holes in it..... i read the chiltons, and it mentioned the pin, i just cant locate this pin..... and i cant seem to locate this pin on the new lock cylinder i have in my hand right now either

It has been a while since i did mine but I think it should be toward the inside of the cylinder and about 30-45 degrees from the bottom towards the driver seat. Stick a small screw driver through it. When you are putting it in dont worry about it just make sure the cylinder cant come back out.

ok, here is a pic of my column..... can someone modify this pic and show me with an arrow or something where the release pin is? its been a long time, and i still cant find it.....

You are trying to get the ign cylinder out? Looks like the release hole is in the 8 oclock position behind where the tilt steering wheel bolt is. Its been a while since I have seen one of those but i think that is where it is.

so basically, if i stick something where this arrow is, then it will travel up throgh the area of the dashed line, correct?

Yeah, make sure the key is in the on position. Should slide right out.

riverrat! you are awesome, i have been trying to get that thing out for like 2 years! i just went outside with my leatherman and half a coathanger, and hte new switch and key..... it works great :) hasnt started with a key in 2 years!!!!!!!! :bounce: :thumbsup: