DIY: 1998 S70 GLT Ignition Tumbler FREE Fix! Topic is solved

[a116522]

will this fix also work in cases where the lock cylinder does a full 360 without catching?

[dosbricks]

will this fix also work in cases where the lock cylinder does a full 360 without catching?

Welcome to the forum, 116522. This is a nice helpful community with a trove of information, so be sure to avail yourself of the search function.

I believe this fix is only related to the jamming of the switch when the little paw that locks the steering wheel has broken off. For what it's worth, the dealer told me the 360 rotation is an internal failure and requires a new switch. In case you're thinking of changing it yourself, be aware that the switch is installed with one-way shear bolts which have to be finagled out. Not at all impossible, but requires allotting sufficient time to perform the job.

Here is a excellent DIY also posted by cn90 on how to do the job.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=34472

[goVolvo]

Hey this was the most amusement about my 98 S70. Sometimes it just makes me feel desperated after several minutes sitting there try turning the damn key and suddenly it would work. Do you know how often it could happen and why it stuck only when you are not lucky? If it does not happen for 10 times will it come back again some day in the morning?

[dosbricks]

Hey this was the most amusement about my 98 S70. Sometimes it just makes me feel desperated after several minutes sitting there try turning the damn key and suddenly it would work. Do you know how often it could happen and why it stuck only when you are not lucky? If it does not happen for 10 times will it come back again some day in the morning?

Probably you ought not to park in a tow-away zone.

[goVolvo]

Actually my car has slightly different issue. I can not turn the key from position 'O' to '1' when it stuck. Once it goes to '1' then it goes to ignition position just fine. It becomes OK after I wiggle it and try multiple times. And as long as I leave the key in the tumbler it can still be turned OK. Is it same problem? The steering wheel lock indeed is not working though. Maybe I should try this, harmfulness anyway.

[goVolvo]

Correction, on my car the steering wheel locker still works. When the key stuck, I also tried turn the steering wheel and make it locked, then wiggle it while turning the key. Seem this makes it easier to get out of stuck. I am wondering if my problem is also related to the steering wheel locking mechanism. If I remove the small plate like here, will it be helpful even the steering locker is still functioning?

[goVolvo]

Did this surgery on my 1998 S70 base. It does not fix my problem.

Symptom was key stuck at position 0, cannot turn forward at all. Steering lock still works. Trick one is to turn the key backwards to end and hold for a few seconds then turn forward. If trick one does not work, then swing the key with the tumbler in the steering left or right direction, slightly or hard, depends on my mood, then try trick one again. Usually can get unlocked in several trials. But once I did fail to make it after several minutes.

So I did the surgery this weekend use some brutal force, with filers, screwdrivers, and small hammer. I filed the three spot to get rid of the squeezed metal that blocks the plate. Make it as clean as possible. I used a triangle filer, then a half curved filer, also use a utility knife to to clean the metal crums when I can. Try to insert screw driver along the gap and tap a little bit. Finally see it is loosing up. The last trick I did is insert screw driver along the gap line at left, and hammer it. It pops more open on top and allows me to insert screwdriver or filer to pry it out. Got the cover plate off, and the spring. There is no tiny stub falling out.

Now I see the steering lock no longer works, but my stuck problem is still there.

Try poking around, I noticed in the opening, the small square plate is movable. I can push it up. Then I can see it slides down slowly while I am swing the key tumbler as in trick two. Maybe there is still another stub on top of it that does not go down together with it and still blocks the tumbler from spinning.

There is some grease in it. Not sure if the grease is drying up and becomes too thick for the tumbler blocker to move down quickly. What can I do else? Inject some new and thinner grease and see if it helps? Anyway it is open now, and easy to tweak it if there is an solution.

[dosbricks]

A spray can of white grease is handy to free up sticking lock mechanisms--such as hood latches, seat back locks. etc. Might be worth a try.

[cn90]

@goVolvo,

You have a slightly different problem (can't go from "0" to "position I", instead of the usual problem of can't go from "position I" to "position II". So I am thinking this:

- Spray the tumbler slot (where you insert the key) with some WD-40 or so, this should send some lubricant down the tumbler and leaks out to the mechanism area, and hopefully whatever blocks it (probably a small tiny piece lodging there) is moved.

- The grease you see is for the mechanism (steering lock etc.)

- When all done, spray some graphite lubricant in the tumbler slot.

[goVolvo]

I am wondering the locking mechanism probably is seoarated from key slot in terms of lubrication. Key slot uses graphite power while the locking mechanism uses grease. They are in separated space and do not mix. I will try inject some hair clipper blade oil into the locking mechanism to make the gease thinner. Maybe safer than WD40.