Ignition Key NIGHTMARE

[Mark McClure]

I took the p car to Sydney yesterday for a day trip about 3 hours each way. Everything is fine until I leave my last meeting at 4:30 to miss the traffic and start home....well bugger me if the key will not turn....about an hour of messing around and at last I call the NRMA ( recovery service ).

The guy arrives about 20 minutes later, with a van full of tools. Here is a list of the actions: - now bear in mind I have my laptop in the back seat with wireless connection to the internet and this forum and all of its information at my fingertips!

1. wiggle key...abort
2. Wiggle key violently ....abort
3. move key up and down and wiggle violently...bend key.....abort

( I had already tried all of this before he arrived... and straightened the key ..twice)

4. stand back and both look at the car ....ignore laptop on back seat!
5. Remove ignition switch front bracket and attempt to remove switch... not enough room! AHA
6. Hammer and chissel lower sheer bolt loose to drop steering column....bugger a second one is behind the speedo....abort
7. Stand back and look at car.....ignore laptop on back seat!
8. Using special tools clevery pick the lock.....or NOT! abort
9. Stand back and look at car ....ignore laptop on back seat!
10. Drive a large screwdriver into the lock and twist.....! abort
11. Stand back and look at car ....ignore laptop on back seat!
12. Smash front of lock with a hammer and chisel and remove barrel...SUCCESS !!
13.......bugger the steering lock is on!
14. Jam a nail against the steering lock slider to stop it engaging with the steering column...! BRILLIANT!
15. Set off for home!
16 DRIVE FOR 3 HOURS AT 120KPH WITH YOUR FINGER IN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO STOP THE NAIL DROPPING OUT AND THE STEERING LOCK ENGAGING

......PRICELESS!

This was the most exhusting drive of my life...100% concerntration for 3 hours, I am normally lucky to go 10 minutes.

$350 for a new switch....! it would have been cheeper to fly!

The message behind all of this is whatever you are doing wherever you are GET TO THIS WEB SITE BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING!

I do not know if a simple spray of WD40 would have fixed the issue but we did not try it. The lock is 20 years old and the key is old and worn?

Cheers

Mark........

[ruf-porsche]

Laptop with wifi access and you didn't bother to do a search like this

Steering column lock / ignition lockout problem

Car keys going bad...

[Joe Bob]

Cue Angry Kid...."Bugger!!!!!"

[Pazuzu]

You really had no choice, what was done was the only sure fire way to solve it. I had some steering lock issues, and eventually replaced my entire ignition switch mechanism.

[ruf-porsche]

Did you try moving the steering wheel so it is no resting on the lockout and then try turning the key?

Mrs. Ruf had the same problem on her Audi, she couldn't get the key to turn to unlock the wheel, so I told her to try moving the steering wheel so that it is not on the lockout and what do you know, she was able to turn the key.

[Mark McClure]

I could get the key to turn to the on position occassionally but not start!

Ripped the whole thing out today and waiting for the repacment in the mail...$300aud from a breakers..!

[SteveinTO]

Remember to re-key your new ignition to your old key or you'll have to carry two keys, one for the doors and one for the ignition. Or you could re-key everything to the old screw driver, but I sense that wasn't really a long term solution.