Hello All-
I don't believe I have ever posted anything but I have been a reader of the forums for a year or two now. The information I have received from these boards is priceless. I’m just too dang busy with work to keep up with all the posts on the boards and to give my input. But now I have a favor to ask of you all!!!

Anyways this seems to be a common Ford problem but I can't seem to find any information about it. I have seen it on my 92' X, a friends 91' X, and even another friends 71' mustang. It starts out as the key wanting to go in the ignition cylinder at an angle that is not the same as where the key sits between the two "ears" that hold it in before you actually turn the key. Usually you can putz with it to get the key and the ears to line up but on my friends 91' X its no luck. The key will NOT go in far enough to turn the ignition any more and now the car just sits because of this (nearly a year now.) What I guess I'm getting at is has ANYONE seen this problem before and are there any solutions to prevent it from happening to my 92' X, and does anyone have any clues as to how I can fix my friends 91' X as I am possibly planning on purchasing it? Has anyone replaced their ignition switch, how much work is it, and how the heck do you get the steering column apart?

I'm sorry if I'm not very clear, its late and I'm not thinking too straight, but if I don't post now I probably won't for another week or so and I want to at least get a plan ASAP. My friend really wants to get this car out of their driveway. If you have any questions or need me to clarify something please ask!

Quick and easy solution would be the car theif method. Jam something, screw driver or key in. You'll probably break stuff and never need a key, but in other cases you'll just break the tab that prevents the key from being removed while it's started.

Replacing the ignition switch will fix it too, but you'll have two difference keys. To get to it. This is only a guess from other cars. You have to remove the plastic that surrounds the column, usually a couple screws from the bottom. Sometimes the two pieces are also cliped or snapped together, but you should be able to figure that out. Then they is probably about 3 screws holding the ignition switch on. I've never removed one, but looked pretty simple.

Get a Hayes or Chilton manual and read that and ask some more questions here about how to do it.


And for Christs sake, post here more often. We won't bite. Welcome....... to you, your thoughs, and your questions.

I have the exact same problem, which started about 2 months ago. Still haven't fixed it yet. Can you turn the outer collar with the ears on it until it lines up to get the key in? That's what I have been doing. Hopefully will have time to fix soon. 'fraid I'm going to get stranded somewhere.

Originally posted by LStoudenmire
I have the exact same problem, which started about 2 months ago. Still haven't fixed it yet. Can you turn the outer collar with the ears on it until it lines up to get the key in? That's what I have been doing. Hopefully will have time to fix soon. 'fraid I'm going to get stranded somewhere.

As of right now on my 92' YES I am able to line the ears on the outer collar up, but on my friends it seems to be REALLY stuck. I don't know what happened but I can't make it move. Although I have not cranked on it yet as it’s not mine to really do that with at this point....hehe

Anyways I have considered the "theft" method but want to use that as a last resort. I suppose I will have to get the Hayes/Chiltons out and see what they have to say. If anyone else has any ideas though let us know! I think this is a large problem that people have just learned to live with. I have seen it on almost ALL first gen's that I have come in contact with.

There has been some other threads on it in the past month or so. I'll see if I can find them.

Later, that same morning......

Found it.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27420&highlight=ignition+switch

THANKKS LStoudenmire!!! I had done a search in the past before I posted but didn't come up with that thread...ODD.....oh well THANKS A MILLION! Helps a lot!