Well, last month my 2002 F350 crew cab and my 2020 14' Enclosed trailer was stolen. The truck was recovered just a few hours after I discovered it missing but my trailer was not with it so everything in it is a total lose. Now after dealing with insurance, I need to start replacing the items that were destroyed including both the left and right front door locks that were punched out with a big screwdriver or something to gain access and the ignition assembly.

I haven't opened up the door panels just yet as I wanted to get the parts here before doing so and I am assuming that the tumbler and all the guts are just hanging out inside the door somewhere and they are probably not damaged (crossing fingers). I am toying with the idea of deleting the front right door key assembly and putting in a blank like they are on the back doors and was curious if anyone has done this and if the back door door handles will be a direct fit on the front since the back door handles do not have the key assembly in it. I am going to keep the left door lock assembly just in case my key fob decides to not work one of these days and I can still get into the truck.

Now for the ignition. It appears that they popped off the plastic cover and used something like a vice grip to just turn the ignition until the locking pieces broke (see picture). I now no longer need a key to start the truck and I can't even get the key to go in all the way. Would I be able to replace just the ignition assembly or will I need to essentially change out the entire column? Below is what the ignition looks like currently. The entire metal portion turns freely.

As an afterthought. I was curious if anyone has placed a switch somewhere that has to be on in order to start the vehicle? I was thinking a standard OEM type switch that look like it belonged in the truck but with it turned off, it would disable a key wiring component such as the fuel pump or something that would prevent the truck from starting. Just looking for some ideas to stop or at least slow these *******s down now that I know just how easy it is to take one of these trucks.

 

Flying Biker: Where was it stolen from? What state? Had my 2002 F-250 CCLB 4WD stolen TWICE from my place of work in the last 4 years. Usually they punched out the rear pass. glass on the drivers side and popped the ignition. Call a dealer in your area or go to their parts website. Try to use only OEM stuff and stay away from knock off. The door handles are fairly simple to replace, as I replaced mine. They also punched out the key lock in the handle. You can buy the handle and a key tumbler from Ford. Either you can rekey it or give to a locksmith to do. I have been also toying with the idea of a kill switch for the fuel tank. You'll want to hide that switch somewhere in the truck. For the ignition, you'll just remove that plastic brown collar around it. Plenty of Youtube videos regarding Ford F-250 fixes going through the years.

 

I am in the middle of a move from Colorado to Texas and we stopped in Duncan Oklahoma for a memorial service of my best friend. We got to the hotel at 2300 and when I walked out at 0800, it was gone. It was located about 1100 in Oklahoma City that same morning.

I will start looking on YT for these videos.
Thanks

 

I had my truck broken into the same way. You will need 2 door handles, obviously, a lock set with a match ignition tumbler. The ignition is childs play taking about 5 minutes. The door handles and the locks will probably take about an hour or so depending on how mechanically inclined you are. I bought everything from Amazon and EBAY. I have definitely been thinking about putting in a secondary kill switch beyond my alarm system that would kill the ignition or starting system, maybe both. Might do that very soon since these trucks are being stolen heavily again. BTW, they break in by jamming a screwdriver into the lock and prying the door handle until it breaks which does not take long since it is only held in with 2 nuts and they snap easily.