I have been a repeat customer of this place and even referred people here. I went in on Monday for two new tires in preparation of a road trip and explicitly told the service adviser to replace the right front and the worse of the rear and put them both in front.

After waiting for over 3 hours they finally tell me my vehicle is done and that I can take one of the tires I replaced with me as it still has a good amount tread on it. He says they were busy and didn't have time to rotate the better tire onto the rear. So he says to come back another day and they'll do it.

So I come back Friday (today) and explain I need this good tread tire put on the rear and the service adviser at first wanted to charge me but then agreed to do it free of charge as it was their mistake. Then the "technician" who was pulling my van into the shop damaged the ignition key system so badly the whole key assembly just freely rotates and the vehicle can't be turned off!

I ask them what they did and they said "nothing we just turned the key." So I left upset and went straight to my mechanic. Turns out they applied so much force to the key assembly that they broke a part in the steering column that actuates the starter mechanism! I am now waiting for my mechanic to find the part and the whole steering column is disassembled. Be careful where you take your vehicle. I lost my desire to take the road trip and everything because of this.

 

I had that happen to my steering column a couple months ago, but I was the one handling the key. I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, it just felt strange when I started it, and then I couldn't turn it off. I had to take the whole column apart to fix it.

 

What year is your van? That plastic plunger thingy broke right?

 

It wasn't a van, but Ford columns are all pretty much the same.

Mine didn't actually break. The pin that connects the switch to the plastic part fell out. I was able to put it all back together and it's been working for about three months now.

 

I agree with Mark . The actuator rods can fail at any moment . I do not think the "mechanic " caused the damage . The components fail . He was the unlucky guy to turn the key. I see them fail more in tilt column set ups .

 

Ok thanks guys. I'm just wanting on the mechanic to find the part.

 

Does anyone know if a steering column from a 1999 or 2000 Econoline van will fit in my 95? My mechanic is going to the junk yard on Thursday to get a whole steering column and I should be back in business.

 

What happened to need the whole column ? Is yours not repairable ?

 

The connecting rod that shifts the box that controls AUX/OFF/POWER/START functions broke. So when I turned the key it would just free wheel and not do anything. SO rather than order the specific part from the dealer the mechanic wants to just replace the whole steering column with my ignition.

 

The last rod I replaced on a Ford column was under $20 In stock at my local dealer . It was in a pickup about a 90 or so model .

 

Yes, the actuators are a common problem and should not be hard to find, or expensive. I use to own a locksmith shop and we actually kept them in stock. Since this is an older post, I will just comment for archive reasons. Check with local locksmith for part.

 

I just bought a 1984 E-350 460 ci coachman motorhome, doesn't start when i use the ignition switch, but can jump the starter relay to get the engine to turn over. Ignition switch seems to be gummed up, in other words, it doesn't snap back from the start position to the run position. Also no power to electric fuel pumps. Does anyone have any info. RV has been sitting a ggod amount of time, would just a key cylinder take care of this problem.
Thanks

 

you most likely have the same problem. The springy return is in the actual electronic ignition switch. It is connected to your ignition cylinder via actuator and rod. The actuator is a piece of pot metal and under alot of torque and pressure. I am surprised these lasted as long as they did.

SOME of the parts in the steering column are under spring pressure and require tools not in the average tool box.