How to remove 91` Explorer Ignition switch without a key?

[motogabriel]

Hi guys,

so i bought an Explorer a few days ago and im starting to rebuild it

Sadly the car was broken into when the previous owner had it and the keys were stolen. So now i have to replace the ignition switch, which i have but i cant seem to remove the ignition switch.

I wrote to some Facebook Explorer group also, suggestions were:
1) Drill into the key hole - wtf?
2) Ram a flat screwdriver into the key hole, turn and pushthe pin? I only have a small ping there that i can pull and a small hole on the underside of the ign. switch cylinder.

So in my last hope i found this forum and was hoping someone can help me in simple words, since i cant understand a lot of technical words in english.

PS: I have read almost every build thread on this forum, awesome! Hoping to open up my own soon.

Picture:

 

[Anime]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285199

Not fun. If you cannot get the key all the way in you are in for some work.

Try, try, try again to get the key into the cylinder. You will need the remove the steering wheel and the column plastics. I remove the dash panel first, it makes it easier to get the other stuff off.

If you can get the key in, turn the ignition to on position and you will need to stick a piece of coat hanger into a bore only accesible from the bottom side of the column casting. There is a small lock pin that pushes in and then the cylinder will slide out. I will try to get you a pic.

If you can't get the key in the lock, you will need to drill out the cylinder with a 1/4 inch bit. I spent a little over three hours doing this one day. Its hard to get it to go down the center. Be careful not to damage the casting, its only aluminum. There is also a gear and slide mechanism behind the lock cylinder to move the actual ignition switch. You don't want to damage these either.

The first pic is the column as you see it sitting in the seat. My finger is where the key cylinder goes. There is a smooth round part of the casting just to the left of my finger under the lock cylinder case, going perpendicular to it. That is what is bored out, its circled with red.

The second pic shows the bore, again at the tip of my finger. Its about 3/4 of an inch deep. I used a piece of coat hanger. You do not have to remove the steering wheel mount. I have it removed for clarity.

Hope this helps, let us know how it works out.

 

[silent3k]

i personally stuck a screw driver in there and twisted it with some channel locks and got the pin to release.

 

[motogabriel]

i personally stuck a screw driver in there and twisted it with some channel locks and got the pin to release.

Do you mean the pin that is somewhere in the ign. switch cylinder? Because there is no visible one. Sould i push into one of the holes maybe to release the pin?

 

[Roadrunner777]

Read this thread, and check the pictures at post #15 .

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197697