Hi, 73 coupe, 351C, FMX. I just got the FMX rebuilt. After I drove it home, I was unable to get the key cylinder to return to the lock position. I'm going to take the steering wheel off tomorrow and look for a problem. I thought I'd ask if it could be something to do with the transmission.

Thanks,

John

 

ignition keys are not connected to transmission in any way, they are unrelated.
what do you mean by 'lock' position? i only know left to right: "accessories", middle (all of), ignition and start?

 

What year did Ford introduce the interlock between the key and the Park position on the transmission? I don't remember.

 

There is the initial key position, acc, On, and start. There is also an acc by rotating the key one spot towards me from the initial position. The key is stuck in the acc between the initial position and on. Car still starts, just can't get the key out.

I recall that there is some sort of linkage that goes down the bottom of the steering column. I thought that this linkage moved when the transmission was shifted from park, but I'm not sure.

 

wait wait how can the ignition switch be connected to the transmission in anyway mechanically that would cause this? Maybe you have the key turned too far to the left in the Lock position? You can not take the key out when its there. You can take the key out if you turn it to On but not Start. Pretty sure thats how it is.

 

I'm not familiar with it, but I know there is a linkage of some type that prevents the key from being rotated to the lock position unless the car is fully in park. The manufacturers did this when they introduced locking steering columns to keep people from possibly locking the steering wheel while the car was in gear or moving. Gotta be related to the recent repair.

 

If the parking interlock came on the 73, it will indeed prevent you from removing the key if the car is not in park. Get under the car and check to see if the mechanic failed to attach a linkage part. Or, if you can, remove whatever cover is covering the linkage on the column and pull or push it and see if that allows you to return the key to the off position.

 

Yeah, ok I'll try that. I was pretty sure that there is a linkage. I just wanted to see if anyone could confirm it. It would suck if it was the ignition switch, I just got matching door locks for it.

But, they just reinstalled the transmission, and magically, I can't get the ignition key to return to the initial position so I can remove it. Also, the steering wheel is definitely NOT locked, even though the car is off and I've almost got the switch back to the locked position.

 

not familiar with new cars .. sorry

 

I got the key out!!! But, I had to manually rotate the shroud around the steering column. This same shroud used to rotate when the transmission was shifted, but now does very little. I suspect that there is an issue with the transmission repair and will, sigh, be taking the car back to the shop.