1994 855T Ignition Chime

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 19 Jan 2015, 06:35

There's lots of information related to the chime ringing all the time with the door closed but my car only chimes with the door open with the key either in or out of the ignition lock. It's as if the locking mechanism can't sense the key in the lock. I have no other issues with lights or anything else and the battery does not seem to be draining when parked. The chime turns off with the door shut.

Does my tumbler need to be replaced or the electrical switch on the driver's door side of the steering column, or ???

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 19 Jan 2015, 07:21

In your case I would focus on the steering column. The car thinks the key is always in the ignition.

...Lee

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 19 Jan 2015, 08:38

Tumbler or electrical switch?

Is there a write up anywhere for replacing the 850 tumbler? I only see the V70 replacement. Does this car have the torque limiting snap off fasteners?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 19 Jan 2015, 13:02

I don't think there is anything electrical in the tumbler but there is something electrical that gets actuated when the key is in the ignition. What ever that is, and I must plead ignorance since I have never had to mess with it, might just be hung up and removing the tumbler might reveal something that is stuck and can be lubed a bit.

To remove the tumbler on an 850 you need to remove the plastic shell around the steering column by removing the three Torx screws. On the top of the cast collar around the tumbler there is either a hole or a slot (I have seen them both ways). Put the key in the ignition and then use a small screwdriver or an appropriate sized pick and depress the retainer through the hole. The tumbler will slide right out.

It is much easier than the 70 series.

...Lee

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 31 Jan 2015, 07:09

I have a new tumbler and hope to report back soon. I first need to have it re-keyed.

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 04 Feb 2015, 06:14

No one in Greenville/Spartanburg SC can rekey this tumbler. It appears that a tumbler to be used with an existing, old key must be specifically manufacured (custom) for that key.

So now I will have two keys on my keychain for one car... one key for the ignition and another key for all the other locks.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 04 Feb 2015, 06:45

You can order it through the dealer with the VIN number but it isn't cheap. I snagged an entire set, doors, trunk, glove box, and ignition along with a key for another member at a Pick-N-Pull and I think it was around $20.00 or $25.00 which is much cheaper than buying a new ignition tumbler.

Changing the door locks is a PITA but the rest of them are very easy.

...Lee

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 04 Feb 2015, 15:17

Thanks Lee but I'm not going to put $200+ into a new key set. So I'll carry two keys. Total price was $82 for the ignition tumbler.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 04 Feb 2015, 22:02

Save yourself some money. Shoot a quick squirt of WD-40
into the keyhole and run the key in and out a few times.
That'll usually loosen up the little switch in there and
clear up the problem that you've described.

rsmigel · Post by **rsmigel** » 23 Feb 2015, 12:24

Well... I tried giving the old tumbler a good shot of WD40 but it was to no avail. The key remained difficult to insert and remove. So I switched out the tumbler (be sure to have the key in the lock at position "I" when you go to depress the metal tab on the tumbler else it won't budge) to a new model and, at least, the insertion of the key is now back to normal.

But my chime continues. That is, the car chimes with the key removed from the tumbler. So is the next step the replacement of the electrical part of the ignition switch on the left hand side of the column?

Or should I be hunting elsewhere?