Friday on a routine trip to the store my key broke off in the cylinder about half way after starting the truck. I didnt turn it hard or anything, it just broke and then i could turn the key 180deg from the on position but it wouldnt shut the truck off. Luckily I can kill the engine by switching to my front tank which isnt hooked up. Anyway, I had a guy come out(that I trust) to just go ahead and replace the lock cylinder with a new one. He installed it but its doing the exact same thing. I can start the truck but there is no resistance and I can still turn the key 180deg backwards from the on position. He said I need a new column since he couldnt get some small metal clip back in. Is this true? it seems to me that i wouldnt need a whole new column from the firewall up just for this.

Currently I am still shutting the engine down with the fuel switch and unhooking the neg battery cable to kill the bat. and check eng lights. since the cylinder is stuck in "on". Oh, BTW, the new key can be removed only when turned to the off position and that spot is the only one where you feel very slight resistance to know its there.

As always, your help and advice is greatly appriciated!

 

Sounds like the actuator rod is broken....

It goes from behind the igntion cylinder, the length of the column and ends with the actual switch on the bottom/left side of the column....Lil yellowish looking box....

 

I kept having problems with the aluminum rod that has a half loop on top in the column with the auto transy.They would break in the loop. I replaced it a couple of times. there are some lil gears in the column, like lil ring & pinion gears. It could be those also. The way the teeth are on those. If they turned just a little, it will either not start the truck or not turn it off. Is the truck an automatic? Hope this helps. Tony,

 

I agree with the actuator rod...if your truck is 91 or older they were infamous for breaking those. They're inexpensive, but a PITA to replace.

 

This is what the little critter looks like... It's about 12 bucks at NAPA....

Actuator rod..

 

This write-up from another forum might help you out: Ignition Actuator Replacement on an '85 w/tilt - FSB Forums

Or this one for '92 and up: Steering column teardown and ignition actuator replacement in a 1995 (92+ Columns) - FSB Forums

 

Hey White, that is the rod that I was talking about. I have replaced 2 of those in my '87. Prolly the weakest part in these steering columns. They aren't too bad after you do a couple of them. The tilt wheel makes it a lil tougher.
Tony,

 

Don't forget that this can also affect the steering wheel lock mechanism.It happened to my 1988 F 250 w/tilt while I was driving.I had been driving around for a few days with the broken actuator,came to a stop sign,and the steering wheel locked up.I was able to unlock it by sticking a small screwdriver in the column and sliding the mechanism over to unlock the wheel.I drove home very slowly and replaced the column before I drove it again.Coulda been catastrophric.Fix it right away!

 

Now thats a scary thought! Ive been driving it for 5 days this way now. The guy has been looking for new columns at yards around here but cant find one. pick-n-pull is getting new trucks tomorrow and he's going to check again. If he doesnt find one all he has to do is replce the actuator on mine though right? I dont have the tools (lost them in my divorce) do do this one which is why i rely on this guy for stuff like this.

Thanks again Y'all!

 

I've had one of those in my desk drawer since about 03. I got tired of replacing them on my old 86 E-350 after about the fifth one. I took the lower shroud off the column and used a pair of pliers to push the rod down. It's part # E9TZ-3E715-B Actuator P025A. If anyone needs it make me an offer. It is still in the original blue and white ford service parts box.

 

Turning the key in the ignition to start the engine does three things.1-starts your engine and disengages the starter motor.2-Unlocks the steering.3-Allows the gear shifter (on automatic trans) to be moved from PARK into gear.The day that my steering wheel locked,I was unable to take it out of PARK initially,but my wheel was able to turn.






I had to(JIGGER) around in the column with the aforementionned screwdriver to put it in gear.The tilt column made it easier to access the internals.LMCtruck.com has an exploded detailed drawing of the column in their Ford Truck catalog.I did take apart the column once I replaced it and sure enough, the actuator was broken.It doesn't seem like too big of a job to replace the actuator.It is cheaper than a full column.The article referenced in this thread is quite detailed.Good luck with whichever route you take.