Key wont turn
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 755
Likes: 3
From: Rockport MA
Key wont turn
Hey guys,
Well I made it home for the holidays and I want to get my truck back on the road and had a list of some fixes to do, but It has been sitting for about a month so I wanted to start her up today, so I get my key I go out and figure I will let the glow plugs cycle a few times, BUT when I go to turn the key, it would not budge at all.
I can turn the steering wheel, I did end up locking it up by the time I was done.
Tried nudging it back and forth, and even taking a pair of pliers and giving it a extra nudge, but no luck.
The thing is, its a new cylinder from RockAuto and I had used it for a few days after I replaced it so it was working fine, it has something to do with it sitting I believe.
It is cold here but no less than 30 at any time I would guess over the last month. I also have a leak in my windshield and the possibility that my step dad mentioned is possibly the water leaked in and froze it up, but I though that was a little far fetched cause I don't think it was leaking in that area anyway.
I feel like this should be somewhat common, but couldn't find anything in the search.
Thanks guys
Devin
Well I made it home for the holidays and I want to get my truck back on the road and had a list of some fixes to do, but It has been sitting for about a month so I wanted to start her up today, so I get my key I go out and figure I will let the glow plugs cycle a few times, BUT when I go to turn the key, it would not budge at all.
I can turn the steering wheel, I did end up locking it up by the time I was done.
Tried nudging it back and forth, and even taking a pair of pliers and giving it a extra nudge, but no luck.
The thing is, its a new cylinder from RockAuto and I had used it for a few days after I replaced it so it was working fine, it has something to do with it sitting I believe.
It is cold here but no less than 30 at any time I would guess over the last month. I also have a leak in my windshield and the possibility that my step dad mentioned is possibly the water leaked in and froze it up, but I though that was a little far fetched cause I don't think it was leaking in that area anyway.
I feel like this should be somewhat common, but couldn't find anything in the search.
Thanks guys
Devin
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
Likes: 92
From: Denver Metro Area, CO
What can happen is the front tires are wanting to push on the mechanism through the steering gear when parked on a hill. But you say you can turn the wheel, so that rules that out.
The obvious... are you sure you're using the right key?
The obvious... are you sure you're using the right key?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 755
Likes: 3
From: Rockport MA
Same key I was using
I am going to jack the front up since I locked the steering wheel anyway, and then give it another try just by chance hopefully it will work.
If that doesn't work I am going to try heating it up with a hair dryer
Also I have another key I am going to try, mind you, I got two keys with the new cylinder, and the one I am using is one of the originals, I will try the other original tomorrow
I am going to jack the front up since I locked the steering wheel anyway, and then give it another try just by chance hopefully it will work.
If that doesn't work I am going to try heating it up with a hair dryer
Also I have another key I am going to try, mind you, I got two keys with the new cylinder, and the one I am using is one of the originals, I will try the other original tomorrow
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 755
Likes: 3
From: Rockport MA
Yeah I tried flipping it, no luck, I believe when I first installed it too, I tried starting it both ways too check.
I thought the actuating rod didn't cause it to bind, but rather you could still turn the key but get no action
Devin
I thought the actuating rod didn't cause it to bind, but rather you could still turn the key but get no action
Devin
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,023
Likes: 2,754
From: Virginia
Take the short collar off around the column that is down near the dash. While you are trying to turn it, see if that rod on top is trying to move. Then get some pliers and grab the rod and while you are turning the key, help the rod forward and backward(it goes downward when the key turns) and see if you can get it undone. Right in that same area is where the tranny lever is locked in park if you have a automatic, so you can fiddle with the shifter also.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 755
Likes: 3
From: Rockport MA
Im going to be making it there in another half hour or so, how do I remove the collar, is it a big process or not so much, I already have dash pad removed, and also the face plate for the cluster and such with the wood grain finish so I probably have some better visibility for what I am looking for
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 755
Likes: 3
From: Rockport MA
Trim panels already removed, I will get to evaluated it when I get there and see what I'm looking at, wasn't sure of the difficulty though, but if I can do it with a Philips it shouldn't be to bad
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 755
Likes: 3
From: Rockport MA
Got the collar off this morning and heated up above it with a hair dryer and got it moving again, came back again today and it was pretty rough again, although I never reinstalled the collar so maybe having no protection let it freeze back up, plus it wasn't protecting from the cluster and the dash board lying on it. Does anyone know if there is any thing I can grease up in the steering column near the steering wheel
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,023
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From: Virginia
We had a post the other day about this, and I commented that I sprayed wd40 down in and around where the key goes in, and it will work it's way down in the column and loosen up the old Ford grease. It seemed to help it for me and I didn't have to take it apart at the time, but like was mentioned by some other guys, taking it apart and cleaning it up and re-greasing would probably be the proper way.
I don't remember if the poster that had the problem in the other thread ever wrote back in or not and reported if he was successful.
I don't remember if the poster that had the problem in the other thread ever wrote back in or not and reported if he was successful.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,023
Likes: 2,754
From: Virginia
I sprayed it into where the key goes, hoping it would run down into the mechanism. Spray it anywhere you think it will do some good, it won't hurt anything, it just makes a little bit of a mess so have a rag handy. Spray it, and keep working it back and forth.
Apprently you know how to take the cylinder in and out since you just replaced it, so why not take it out again and spray down in there?
Apprently you know how to take the cylinder in and out since you just replaced it, so why not take it out again and spray down in there?
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