Hi Guys :

Someone stole my 97 f250 PS diesel and got it back later with body damage and broken ignition .... they broke it right off ... nothing to grab or turn " as i have often heard you can do afterwards ... ' even" with a screwdriver etc... all i can see is a "hole" where the cylinder used to be and nothing really to grab on to " turn " i can't for the life of me figure out how to remove anything to be able to try and start the truck or @ least remove what's broken and put a new key mechanism in it ....

any ideas how it can be done ...

thanks guys

i need the truck to go to work

 

Can you post a picture of it? That would help give a better idea of what exactly you are dealing with. Sounds like there may still be some pieces stuck in there that need to come out so you can at least start it with a screwdriver.

 

Sometimes the key mechanism comes with the thieves' screw driver.. Its gonna be hard to know what to replace until you figure out what else got torn out with it.

 

On the 97's there is a rod on the top of the steering colume going down to a box. Push that rod toward the brake peddle (down) and it will turn the ignition on, push farther and it will crank the engine and spring back.

 

thanks for the feedback i'll try that ..... i see what you mean .... is there an " easier way persay like crossing some wires under there for now ( like in the movies LOL) until i get it fixed looks like i might need a new sterring column unless that part is replaceable ...i'll try to get a pic

 

after you fig out how to start and stop that truck drive it to a junk yard and get a whole colum... all ford trucks are the same.... cheaper and easy to replace

 

figured as much ...thanks for speedy reply ... much appreciated

 

Moved to the 1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks forum.

 

did they catch the thief? lets go pee on him while hes in his cell. there should be 2 (or more) sets of wires you can cross to get the thing started. one (or more) set puts the truck into "run" mode, which youll have to do first, then the other set energizes the solenoid sending juice to the starter. because so many different things are used in the "run" position, it'd be easiest to figure out which two energize the starter solenoid, separate those, and the rest are "run". certain things are cut off from juice once the key is in the start position, so i wouldnt do this for long. in fact, it might not be the best way to go about it by any means, but it'll get ya to the junkyard.

 

Here is a pic that shows the rod. This rod goes down to the electrical ignition box. No need to cut and play with any wires.

 

Sorry to hear about your truck. Tha kfully you got it back. Id just get a new column at the junk yard and swap in. Never know what all got damaged to try and fix that one.

 

ouch man, sucks to have your truck stolen, havent had this happen to me (great now i may have jinxed my self) but just swap the entire colum out as you won't know what was damaged and what not by the thiefs...

on the same topic would any one have any suggestions for anti-theft deturents? im thinking of hooking a battery disconnect to my truck and using that (can't start what doesnt get power to it) as a deturent...im kinda nervous that thiefs could and may steal my truck (which is my only car btw)

 

what this guy said!

 

once again thanks for all the help ...much appreciated ... and yeah it sucks to have ur truck stolen and no they didn't catch him ...joy ride it seems .... in an old truck ( eyes rolling) scheeeeeeeeesh

 

yeah i think it will be easier to just replace the column and btw that's what i did found that rod and pushed it in and got it started ....