Ignition Switch?

[shallishanti?]

Came out to the car this morning to go to work. Doors opened fine, put the key in the ignition and cannot turn it. Got to the point of thinking the remote fob was going to break off so went and found the spare key, tried that, same thing. Steering lock was not engaged.

 

Is there some clever solenoid interlock malarky on the ignition switch or is this likely to be a "simple" mechaincal failure of the lock?

[coastline taxis]

Came out to the car this morning to go to work. Doors opened fine, put the key in the ignition and cannot turn it. Got to the point of thinking the remote fob was going to break off so went and found the spare key, tried that, same thing. Steering lock was not engaged.

 

Is there some clever solenoid interlock malarky on the ignition switch or is this likely to be a "simple" mechaincal failure of the lock?

sounds like your ignition barrel is u/s

[shallishanti?]

thanks - it was fine yesterday - seems odd it failed overnight

[shallishanti?]

Oh this is hilarious..........................just got a price from my local indy................best part of £500 to supply and fit the ignition lock. More if I want the door locks to match.

 

So.......if I attack the ignition lock with a screwdriver and hammer, will I be able to get the steering lock undone, as it's currently locked? Thinking if this will work I may as well drive it with the lock butchered as spend £500 on something I really don't need........

 

Or can anyone tell me how to change the barrel myself?

[Stasi]

Apologies if you have tried this, but if the barrel will not turn, it could be something as simple as a stuck 'leaf' in the lock.

 

The 'leaves' ( and I don't know what the locksmiths term for these is) are spring loaded and as the key is inserted they slot into place along the cutouts of the key; if a piece of gunge has been inserted inadvertently, or the grease that they are lubricated with has solidified, that could prevent a leaf from sitting correctly, so try a tiny squirt of WD40 or even better a graphited oil into the key slot and either work it in by putting the key in and out a few times, or leave to soak over night.

 

It may not work, it may work temporarily, or it could be a permanent solution but it's cheap, worked for me on a Xantia barrel and gives you a breathing space to source a secondhand lock or a cheaper new one than a £500 shocker.

 

To extract the barrel I can offer only generic advice; remove the plastic shrouds and insert the key; there is usually a release button on the barrel, sometimes a hole that you need to insert a thin rod into. (Allen key perhaps?) In my experience the key would need to be turned to extract the barrel, maybe if lubrication allow the thing to operate, remove the barrel and clean the lock of old grease and relube using graphite or a light white lithium-based grease.

 

Hope this helps

 

Stasi

 

 

Oh this is hilarious..........................just got a price from my local indy................best part of £500 to supply and fit the ignition lock. More if I want the door locks to match.

 

So.......if I attack the ignition lock with a screwdriver and hammer, will I be able to get the steering lock undone, as it's currently locked? Thinking if this will work I may as well drive it with the lock butchered as spend £500 on something I really don't need........

 

Or can anyone tell me how to change the barrel myself?

[shallishanti?]

thanks Stasi, much appreciated.

 

Before reading your reply I fixed it!!!!!!!!

 

I put some contact cleaner into the lock, worked the key in and out a few times then smacked the end of the key with a hammer. The lock moved a small amount, then I was able to turn it and it now seems to be ok.

 

When I pull the key our now there is a spring loaded something inside that's springing back. It wasn't doing this when the lock was stuck, so I guess something somewhere was indeed jammed.

 

Looks like I'll be keeping the old girl a little while longer.

[coastline taxis]

thanks Stasi, much appreciated.

 

Before reading your reply I fixed it!!!!!!!!

 

I put some contact cleaner into the lock, worked the key in and out a few times then smacked the end of the key with a hammer. The lock moved a small amount, then I was able to turn it and it now seems to be ok.

 

When I pull the key our now there is a spring loaded something inside that's springing back. It wasn't doing this when the lock was stuck, so I guess something somewhere was indeed jammed.

 

Looks like I'll be keeping the old girl a little while longer.

That sounds like a good fix. Till it happens again at 70 down a motorway Guess you really wont no which way to turn then

[shallishanti?]

It won't happen at 70 on the motorway though will it? I won't need to turn the key once the thing's running.

[coastline taxis]

It won't happen at 70 on the motorway though will it? I won't need to turn the key once the thing's running.

No probally not but id still be taking the barrel out and checking everything in case the fault progreses to a more serious one. Just for the piece of mind

[DaveHerns]

No probally not but id still be taking the barrel out and checking everything in case the fault progreses to a more serious one. Just for the piece of mind

While it works it's easier to get the barrel out

You may find the garage charges less if it's not a case of removing a jammed lock

[shallishanti?]

charges less for what???????? It works fine now.

 

And what would I have checked? They're not a serviceable item.

[kfk]

Rather than sticking your head in the sand and thinking you have fixed it, now is the time to consider finding out what went wrong.

 

To my mind there is one of 3 options:

1, the steering lock mechanism became jammed.

2, the lock wards/key are worn and wouldnt allow the key to turn in the lock.

3, the electrical contacts on the bottom of the ignition switch overheated & melted, when cooled down it fused together and stopped the key turning in the barrel.

 

Whichever fault caused it a new lock barrel is required to ensure it doesnt leave you stranded or be the cause of an accident.

 

Whilst the ignition lock is now rotating it will allow the lock barel to be removed fairly easily......if it doesnt rotate the method for removal is far more agressive and time consuming.

 

No one likes spending money on there vehicles......and i for one dont like trying to extract hard earned cash from customers.....but there comes a point where you have to consider it wont get better and that you have just experienced the first signs of failure.

[shallishanti?]

Of the 3 options offered, I would dicsount 1, as the steering lock wasn't on.

Also, if 3 were the case then would the switch now work? I suspect not, but I'd be happy to be corrected.

This leaves option 2. Which is quite possible. But it's now working fine, and has done twice a day since it was "fixed".

 

Of course, there is another option - that there was something stuck in the lock, which now isn't there.

 

If it happens again, then yes I'll get it looked at, but having spoken to the bod who was going to get my hard earned, and still will, he sin't overly concerned, so nor am I.

 

Sticking my head in the sand? Far from it, but I'm happy it's ok. Should I go running for a diagnostic check every time I get a quirky message on the info display? Cos if not, I'd be sticking my head in the sand wouldn't I?

[kfk]

If it was the switch contacts melted, yes it could work after the event......it happens on picassos.

[coastline taxis]

If it was the switch contacts melted, yes it could work after the event......it happens on picassos.

You can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink it

[techbod]

hopefully the steering lock doesn't engage at 70mph or your going straight to hospital lol and I personally would want to know what the problem was so it doesn't happen again even if you feel confident with it because it sorted its self out