AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Stupid Ignition Switch!

[90ranajo]

So I need to know how to either pull out the ignition or find out how to disable the steering lock and hot wire the stupid truck.

Went to start the Ranger up to load it back onto the trailer and the stupid POS ignition switch decides to break the head of the key and the outer part of the switch off!:fire:

Thank god for dual Optima batteries and a winch to load it back up.

 

[90ranajo]

Ok, now that I've cooled off a bit and utilized that little search button up there, I found this post that helps. But I don't have a spare key and whats left of the original key is twisted & stuck in the cylinder.

Thinking of just bypassing the whole ignition switch setup for a push button ignition. Any ideas?

 

[Diff Whack Daddy]

You should be able to jus pull the cylinder out as stated in the link, and then just take it to a locksmith. There they can pull it apart and install new tumblers for a new key. No need to retumble any of the other locks, you don't have any

 

[90ranajo]

Oh, did I forget to mention that the cylinder is frozen and doesn't turn. Also there is nothing to grab a pair of pliers onto.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

I know I've seen a writeup for a push button switch. Not sure who did it though, let me see if I can find it...

 

[90ranajo]

I think I've got it figured out. Just not sure on what kind of load the ignition switch sees, considering its on a 60A fuse.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=218672

I know that you still have to use the key to unlock the wheel. Little X uses his to warm up the engine, but because he still has to use the key to unlock the steering wheel no one can drive it away. I plan on doing it soon.

 

[TedJ]

You won't be able to shift gears or steer unless you get the column freed up by turning the key or removing the cylinder. You might just have to bite the bullet and call a locksmith to drill out the lock.

Electrically, you can just drop the column down and take the electrical ignition switch off the top of the column under the dash, and manually move it to start the truck. No need to hack up the wiring.

Other option is to just replace the entire column with one from a junker... might be cheaper than the locksmith if there is a pick-n-pull nearby...

 

[Turdle]

I had an ignition switch do the same thing in My wife's Nissan-
I removed the cylinder and took it to a local locksmith-
I think the whole bill was less than 35.00

including 2 new keys-

 

[90ranajo]

You won't be able to shift gears or steer unless you get the column freed up by turning the key or removing the cylinder.

Don't have to worry about that as I did a manual to TH700-R4 conversion with floor shift.

I had an ignition switch do the same thing in My wife's Nissan-
I removed the cylinder and took it to a local locksmith-
I think the whole bill was less than 35.00

including 2 new keys-

As I understand it, you need to be able to turn the key to the 'Run' position and push in the release button to remove it. My cylinder is frozen and does not turn.

I'll look at it more within the next couple of days to get a better idea of what I need to do.

 

[Turdle]

Don't have to worry about that as I did a manual to TH700-R4 conversion with floor shift.



As I understand it, you need to be able to turn the key to the 'Run' position and push in the release button to remove it. My cylinder is frozen and does not turn.

I'll look at it more within the next couple of days to get a better idea of what I need to do.

That is what I am saying--
he drilled the thing apart-pulled out the broken bits and rebuilt it, then put it back together-then cut 2 new keys

don't worry about getting the key out-just get the ignition switch out and take it in to a locksmith-

 

[90ranajo]

I'll probably go down to Kragen and pick up a new cylinder, they're only $15. Just need to get the old one out first.

 

[TedJ]

That's the catch here, getting a new cylinder and replacing it is easy, but ONLY if it can be turned to the run position. You can't take it out in the off position, obviously if you could it would be a dead easy way to steal it. There is a pin at the bottom that can be accessed through that little hole under the column. That pin can only be moved up when it's in the on position. You can drill the pin, but its not easy and its also very easy to mess up the column because the bit will want to slip off into the softer metal.

IMO If it's already on a trailer it might be a lot easier to just take it to the locksmith and have it drilled because it's going to be a lot more headache if you try to drill it and it gets messed up. Plus if the locksmith messes it up, it's his problem...

 

[TedJ]

Any news on this? Did you get it fixed?

 

[Gatorblazer]

Can you just hammer a flat screw driver in the key slot enough to make it turn? If you gonna replace the cylinder anyways, damaging the old one a little wont matter any.

 

[90ranajo]

No progress on this. Was meaning to take care of it this weekend, but got lazy and then had to rebuild the hard drive in my desktop and laptop this weekend.