Best Solvent or Lubricant to spray into Ignition Key Hole? Topic is solved

[plumsmooth]

Oops maybe my SW is free to move. I was able to move it (was very hard) with my Key out of Lock. Aha maybe because I left my steering wheel out of alignment when I had parked it: The pressure was created pushing on this PIN. Hmmmm. Maybe combined with a little Cold snapped it. Should the Steering Wheel be completely locked with the Key out of the Ignition?

[volvolugnut]

Yes, your steering wheel should be completely locked with key removed when the steering lock is functional. It appears your wheel locking pin has sheared. Follow the thread posted above to disassemble the steering lock and clear the debris. If you leave the debris it is likely to bind again.
volvolugnut

[plumsmooth]

My Sluggish brain: Thank You for your Patience. I must have been in denial. Why did it work when I heated and got some solvent in there?

I am going to temp lube it in hopes of either Driving for the Dremel or at least being able to Drive if I need to. But I would be scared to pull the key out until I get home.

I guess I should consider myself lucky this happened in my Driveway


Annoying Design flaw!!!

[plumsmooth]

P.S> Anyone manage to still have their ignition work?! With that Piece floating around in there???

[plumsmooth]

I finally gave in to some White Lithium Grease because that is what I have. I believe "dry lube" PTFE based is ideal etc... But I believe some car ignitions come lubed with White Lithium Grease so I feel at least I am not going to ruin my Tumbler!

IT instantly freed it up. I guess all the acetone did was temporarily create a little bit of moisture enough to move whatever it is.

That said I might just let my Mechanic do this job -- it is a half hour and it supports him. And maybe by now he gets a kick out of me showing up with Directions -- I just did the other week for the Blower and Resistor -- and had youtube playing while he was working (might have been annoying him)

(thanks much love to MVF BTW)

But I believe it would be a bad idea to ignore this and pretend it will never happen again... But I am excited at least to know my car runs again for now...

[plumsmooth]

P.S. I think I figured out what happened. The night this happened I had put the car into Park with the sterling wheel about a half a turn to the right.
Maybe that put pressure on the system. Oops I might be repeating myself SORRY...

[ljsommar1]

I lived with my ignition cylinder locking up for 5 years or more. I was always able to get the key to move by repeated wiggling or banging. Finally I got up the courage to follow the procedure by cn90 referenced above, and I must say the difficulty of this job is way over rated. The procedure is well documented and quite straight forward. I should have done it years ago. It took me 40 minutes. A significant amount of the time was wasted because I tried to cheap out and use an abrasive cutting wheel on my Dremel. I eventually bought a diamond wheel and the job was done in no time. I imagine I could do it a second time in 15 minutes or less. Really, no need to take this to a mechanic. If I can do it, so can you.
Good luck, but you don't need it.

[abscate]

P.S. I think I figured out what happened. The night this happened I had put the car into Park with the sterling wheel about a half a turn to the right.
Maybe that put pressure on the system. Oops I might be repeating myself SORRY...

You are the first person ever to make this mistake of having steering wheel pressure hold in a key, on a Wednesday after a wolf full moon in a leap year during a pandemic wit h the Bills in the playoffs.

Glad it got solved, ,motor on!

[plumsmooth]

What I meant was the the Steering wheel in that position "broke" the spring or pin or whatever gets broken inside the system that then gets in the way and irritates the tumbler... I'll try it today and see what happens. I haven't ordered a dremel yet... I'd like to get a cordless one...