Like i said i only got 5 keys on mine, all for my own things:

I also got a tiny knife for my personal protection and a keychain thingy from when i had my ranger. Then i have the detachable link so i can separate truck from the rest and my NOS lanyard so i can go fast. The spark plug thing is from the PO and i figured i don't have one might as well keep it.

 

Torky2, any advice on what to do if I've hit the above situation?

Without a key in, my tumbler rotates freely at this point. With a key in, I can't rotate it far enough to start it.

Thanks.

 

That's odd... So without the key in, you can just rotate the chrome "ears"?

If so, take a flashlight and look in at the key slot as you rotate the chrome ears without the key in. Does the key slot itself down in there rotate with the chrome ears, or does the key slot down in there stay still?

If the key slot guts down in there turn with the chrome ears, then if you turn the ears far enough to get to RUN, should be able to remove the cylinder assembly as per procedure above.

If the key slot guts do not rotate with the rotating chrome ears, then it sounds like the chrome part, it was an overlay on some cylinders, may have loosened its connection onto the cylinder itself. Insert the key, then try turning the key to RUN. If you can get the cylinder turned all the way to RUN, then can use the procedure above. You only have to get it solidly into the RUN position, as the button underneath can only be pressed in in RUN, not START.

You need to be sure of what you are seeing before moving on to the brutal step, as it is a last resort.

None of this should be confused with the broken actuator link problem of the 1990, and a couple years around there (I don't know exactly what other years around 1990 were affected, someone here may know). Those columns had a design where a link between key cylinder output and the actual ignition switch could break, so when you put the key in, you could turn the key no problem, but it wouldn't do anything. The Key cylinder became mechanically disconnected from the electrical switch.