allrighty guys...the key broke off in my '94 bronco. the outside that you push with your fingers just spins freely and the part the key goes in is froze up (literary its -15 out)

how much of a pain in the *** is it to change this out? since i cant get the ignition in the "on" postition i cant move the truck so its sitting outside. at this rate with the cold weather i wont touch it till spring because i'm not going to freeze my *** off when i dont need the truck. but i would like to fix it.

so with the key broke off in it how hard will this be? i tried looking up a how to but could not find anything. rip the whole steering column apart?

thanks!!!

 

Did the whole key break off inside or just part of it?

Is is possible to use lock deicer in it and a screwdriver to wiggle it to turn?

 

snapped off flush with the cylinder...lucky me right lol i was thinking maybe a blow dryer to warm it up and figure out a way to try and turn it.

either way even if i get the key out(long shot) i still need to replace the whole deal.

i'm thinking i'll just pull the battery drop insurance and leave this as a april-may project once it gets a decent temp outside lol

 

just swap the whole cylinder...Im not sure I understand the part that is frozen but there is a small hole under your cylinder and just hit it with a punch, press that little button in and the whole piece slides out.

 

Doesnt the key have to be in the on position for that?

 

yeah i dont get the frozen part either!!! same thing happend on my '91 f-250 about 2 years ago. cold snap around -20 and the ignition would not turn put alittle more force on it and bam it busted same as this. no way to put it in ACCY or "run" let alone try to start it. such a pain in the butt.

i'm thinking moisure collected in there last time it was driven this week when it was warmer out..now its supposed to be -25 tonight and for some reason in the cold it would get stiff and eventually break.

so if i read correctly if i can get the cylinder in the "on" position its not too hard to replace the whole unit?

 

Yes, if you get the key to on, you can take a pick or small screwdriver, insert through the hole in the bottom of the steering column cover to push the pin that releases the lock cylinder. Then it just pulls out. If you buy a new lock cylinder you can see where the pin is and how big it is. Resist the urge to turn the new lock cylinder before you put it in, parts can fall off of it.

 

The tumblers in the lock are frozen (stuck) . If you can get the key out , by picking at it with something sharp (knife) and get ahold with a needle noze pliers. I had my lock froze once . I pulled the key out , sprayed WD 40 in the keyhole, put the key back in and it would turn. To replace the key lock (the easy way) you have to have the key in the ON position. The hard way is to drill it out with a 3/8 bit. (done that once)

 

Post #8 in THIS THREAD has some stuff from the factory shop manual (from the 80s, but I believe it applies to your early-90s column also).

 

why not put a heat gun, or hair drier on the key cylinder for an hour or so to try to defrost it?
that should get you to start position so you can depress the pin and replace the cylinder.

 

man thats a bummer if you need a hand let me know.

 

Do you have a spare key? if you can thaw the ignition enough to turn it and you can get the broken key out then why replace the cylinder? I recently made two new keys and retired my original because it was getting worn. If it is stuck in the on position you could also jump the solenoid with a screwdriver and use the heat in the truck to thaw the cab out.

 

i should update this! i used a blow dryer and warmed it up and was able to get the broke key out. sprayed some deicer and wd40 in there and its working untill i can get a new cylinder. so yay!