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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

key release button

Old Nov 2, 2023 | 10:01 PM
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From: pine city washington
key release button

my key won't turn back all the way to release it and the button on the bottom of the column is missing. if I stick my finger in the hole where the button was I can push a piece of metal up and release something inside and take the key out. What is broken inside? i don't want to stick my fingers in strange holes. i tried to get a steering column from a wrecking yard but they were all taken.
 
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Old Nov 2, 2023 | 11:25 PM
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I would take off the steering wheel and see what going on in there, not too hard to do, but you will need a steering wheel puller.
 
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Old Nov 3, 2023 | 12:55 AM
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Just remove the ignition lock cylinder and the steering column shroud. Don't have to pull the wheel. Also don't have to remove the cluster bezel either.

This video shows how to take it apart.

If this is a manual transmission truck which it sounds like it is, just order a new part to replace the lock lever.

Or is this an 87-91 truck?

 
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Old Nov 3, 2023 | 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by dremtofford
my key won't turn back all the way to release it and the button on the bottom of the column is missing. if I stick my finger in the hole where the button was I can push a piece of metal up and release something inside and take the key out. What is broken inside? i don't want to stick my fingers in strange holes. i tried to get a steering column from a wrecking yard but they were all taken.
Sounds like the release works but the button is broken off. Am I correct in assuming this is an 80-91 based on your describing the button location as "bottom?"
 
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Old Nov 3, 2023 | 04:00 PM
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his profile says 88 F150
 
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Old Nov 3, 2023 | 11:05 PM
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I figure it got stuck on somebody's belt loop or something, can't think of anything inside the column that would cause that to break that way. I'd look in there with a flashlight and see if the stub of the lever can be bent down to be accessible- and if so, you could just tack weld a new button or something onto it. Part isn't available separately anywhere I could find in ~5 minutes of Googling, and the cheapest columns I see on eBay are a few hundred dollars. No sense replacing such an expensive part that is otherwise in serviceable condition.

Last time I bought a bricknose column was ~2009 and the local Pick-Your-Own place charged $40, but that was during Cash-For-Clunkers. Seems bricknose trucks are past the "old junk" hump and are now "classics", with parts prices to match.
 
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Old Nov 4, 2023 | 07:34 PM
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They used to get bent back and forth and then break off
Not sure how far you have to tear the column down to replace the lever
 
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Old Nov 5, 2023 | 08:07 PM
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i looked on all the diagrams i could find and could not figure out the lever mechanism. looks like a winter project.
 
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