I finally had the stereo installed y'day. I didn't make it outta the parking lot without blowing a fuse, but the tech fixed it.

Today, first trip out, I get to where I'm going, and I cant turn the car off - the key is stuck in the on position. The ignition is pretty loose, where as it wasn't y'day. So I go back to the tech, who says "Yeah, I thought you knew about that - I had to really play with it to get the key out". Ugh.

DUring the install I watched him with the altmeter in the ignition a bunch of times. Could he have loosened it enough that now I have to replace it? I know the car is 42 years old - so am I.

Ok, the punchline - how do I get the key out if it happens again,,, Im not gonna keep running back to the stereo tech. Is there an adjustment to make? thanks.

 

yeah if anyone has any suggestions i could use the help to, not to steal the post, my key too is stuck in the ignition and will not go to the "off" position so i can pull it out.

 

If you guys are having trouble extracting the key it might be time for a new ingintion tumbler setup. The part that the key fits into is a small removable cylinder that has the guts in it that are matched to your keys.

My only suggestion is to disconnect the battery and then with the key in the off position insert a small paper clip into that tiny hole just below slot for the key. Then press in the paper clip and rotate the key to the ACC position and that cylinder should pop out like the cigarette lighter.

Then go and get a new one somewhere.

if you cant rotate the key to the ACC position then Im not sure what you need to do.

-Gun

 

Sometimes a little lock fluid, available from ACE hardware, sprayed in the keyway will unstick the problem tumbler and let the key be removed. It's not that easy to spray cleanly if the key's in it but it will go in. other than that, time for a replacement key and cylinder( may even have to replace the entire switch if you can't get the old cylinder out),
(don't forget to lubethe new cylinderwith lock fluid)

 

well damn, was kinda hopin to keep the original keys with her

 

might be able to make a tumbler to fit your keys but i dont know.

-Gun

 

Any locksmith can rekey a new unit to your old keys. We have to do this at work all the time when working on stolen recoverys. Also if you have say to mustangs that take the same style key (the double sided one) you canhave each side of the key cut differently since the tumblers only read one side of the key and viola one key for two cars. you just have to flip the key for the car you want to drive.

 

your steering column is probably out of adjustment look near the bottom and see if the linkage is still attached to the rest of the tranny stuff if not push it all the way up should free the key



and gor 66 girl im gonna go with everyone else you probably just need a new key and tumbler

 

If she had a model with a ign switch in the column your suggestion may have worked.

 

I actualy had the same thing happen to me, I just played with it till it turned... it eventually would turn no more so..... I ripped it out with a slide hammer[sm=badbadbad.gif] and dropped the rest of the ignition