The key just started turning freely in the ignition, even worse it broke in the 'on' position so my radio and everything is still on draining the battery...gotta disconnect the battery...

I'm assuming it's a broken ignition cylinder? Only problem is I have no idea where to get a new one and I would have to get a new key as well, right? My zipcode is 49103 if anyone could help me to find how to get a new one that would be AWESOME!

Thanks in advance,
Larry

 

So did your key break? It does sound like a lock cylinder problem, they are pretty easy to change, worse case scenereo you will have to drill out the cylinder.

here this may help:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-cylinder.html

EDIT: As far as getting a new one, most parts stores should stock a new one. You will have different keys of course.

 

Key didn't break, just the cylinder turns freely, something in the ignition broke

 

Probably the tab in the end, they are made of pot metal and if the cylinder is going bad (getting hard to turn) it doesn't take much to break them.

When you get the cylinder out, see if it has the tab on the end, if it is still in the column, take a magnet or pick and use that to get it out, it shouldn't be hard to get out.

 

Just ordered new cylinder, I'll let ya'll know how it goes when I get it installed! Thanks guys

 

Glad to help, let us know how it goes.

 

It took longer to disconnect the battery than to change the cylinder

 

Does the battery have to be disconnected first?

I pulled the old cylinder out, put the new one in, it turns freely still yet when i get to the point where I'm going to fire it up, I turn the key as if to start it and all the lights come on like 'wait to start' and such...it's like it slipped backward or something...I hope this makes sense....

 

Did you CONNECT the cylinder to the switch (there's some kind of arm in the column) when you installed it?

 

I did not, didn't know that was something you had to do. All I did was push in the lock button deal on the bottom, slide out the old one in the starting position, then slide in the new one in the same position and locked it in...now when I turn it all the way forward as if to be starting it, the wait to start light and other pre-start dash lights come on...really weird stuff. I don't know anything about a switch though...could you tell me more?

 

I was always under the assumption you wanted to pull the steering wheel to change the cylinder. Some say you don't but I imagine it's easier to see if everything is in the right place. If there is an arm, that's how you would find it. I didn't think we had one though.

Also, you didn't mess with the cylinder before you put it in the truck right? You didn't turn the key or anything? Once the cylinder is locked in place, then you can turn the key without making the cylinder go FUBAR.

Had that happen when my buddy did his. Turned the key and said goodbye to 20$... Never did find all those tiny pins.

 

That's what pry happened, if you slipped it in the starting positron it pry is off one. Pull it back out and get a flash light down in there and look where the area the tab goes, there should be ( for lack of better descriotion) a flat gear with teeth, this controls the switch in the column, move it to where it's in the on positron, and put the cylinder back in, this should get you back to where everything is in the right place.

 

"Rack"

...78910

 

See I knew there was a word for it. Thank you!

 

I took the housing off of the ignition and I still can't find any 'gear' to turn backwards a notch