My ignition key is very sticky going from run to start. I have to turn it back to the run postion manually or the starter stays engaged. My truck is a 1990 F250 without tilt steering. I have the steering wheel off and I've sprated "PB Blaster" into the plunger assembly located inboard of the key/tumbler. It seems looser but can I disassemble this further to get inside this thing? I suspect old/hardened grease is fouling the spring mechanism.

I wish I could attach a photo.........

 

Commom Ford problem, weak return springs.

 

Will a Haynes manual tell me how to get to the spring to replace it? Can I replace an assembly to fix it? I have the 7.3 idi Haynes manual but not the one for the truck body.

 

its a total crap job. theres a gear selector that the key turns, that moves a pushrod down the center of the column and that activates the switch. if your not careful you will break the cast piece and you gotta strip it all apart. i had to do that when i got my truck. huge pita

 

Thanks oreocreaming....that sounds like a resounding "White Lithium Grease" spray & pray. I'll lube it tomorrow morning and see how it goes.

 

I never bothered with these things, I made it a habbit of pulling back the key. I only have to do it in the cold months anyways, never had a problem in the summer.

 

PB Blaster is a very good penetrating oil, but not very good as lubrication.

The PB Blaster will cut the crap loose, but then you need some type of lubricant to keep it loose.

White lithium, some spray oil like 3 in 1, Marvel Mystery or any of the many others out there.

 

I discovered that quirk this winter when my turn signals and heater fan stopped working. I'm on a manual return system now.

 

yeah i modified my ignition for "no key required option"

 

oh ya? did you alert your insurance to that little "mod"? lol

 

It's like for a long time in my F250, I didn't even need a key to turn it on.

But after a year or 2, it started locking again, so was stuck using my key again. lol

 

of course oreo its my "advanced car alarm discount" on my bill lol

 

Mine is really hard to turn foward to the start position when its cold outside, sometimes its almost a 2 handed ordeal. Is this a sypmtom of the same problem you all are having?

 

I let the assembly soak overnight in "PB Blaster" then sprayed it down with white lithium grease this morning. I reassembled it and it works better......not as well as I'd like but it returns to the run position after the truck starts.

Sheesh......you'd think a twenty year old ignition would work flawlessly!?

 

Yeah seriouslly eh?

After being used so much it should work with 1 finger! lol

Nope, gets harder with the years.....