I lost my one and only key to my 1989 Ford F250. I have tried the pinhole on the bottom to unlock the switch, but I have no key In able to "turn" the switch. I have taken the steering column off, but without breaking it, how can I turn the ignition switch to the on posistion. I would also love to find an inside view diagram of the whole thing. Please help ASAP. Its my only car!!!!

 

I don't know how, but after I took my F250 to Goodyear for a brake job, the clowns broke my ignition. I can turn the truck on without a key now.

My theory is they stuck the key in, but didn't press the button and broke it.

Maybe you can try just turning the ignition by the chrome part with some pliers and get it to turn on.

Option #2 is call a Lock Smith and see if they can make a key to fit.

 

you might break the chrome thing if you do that ...which at this point doesnt matter i guess.

take the ignition cylinder out and walk to the local auto parts place and buy a new one. it comes with two keys.

there i a pin at the bottom of the cylinder that you have to push. actually now that i think of it, i think you need to turn it be able to do this.

hmm . .. ok well plan b

take a large heavy duty type screwdriver and a hammer

insert the screw driver into they key cylinder. hit it with the hammer several times very hard until you feel it break -through- the key cylinder

if you're able to, remove the cylinder
reinsert the screwdriver (flathead by the way) into the cylinder hole and you will see a slot that should the screwdriver perfectly. turn it towards the engine like you would the key. drive to the auto parts place and get he new cylinder.

good luck

 

Be careful when you do like the above poster said. I've seen that cylinder hole thingy that you have to turn - vibrate back to the place where it locks the steering wheel. This was on a 89 or so Nissan and not a Ford, but I thought I'd tell you just in case so you'll keep the screw driver close by.

 

call a locksmith.

 

making a key to fit is not easy to do.. i am a locksmith persay.. first off, you need to take the igniton out of the truck and bring it to a locksmith and see what they say, some locks can be taken apart, some locks cant, i believe it is mainly foreign who make sealed locks so ur golden. You second option is to buy a new ignition and key and then if you want, you can have a locksmith set the door locks to your new ignition key

 

I was a fleet manager for the phone company back in 1983 and one of our new 1984 LTDs lost it's keys--and there wasnt any spares and the key number wasnt recorded.

I called the locksmith and he came out with a rat tail file and a Ford blank key. And nothing else. I thought that I made a mistake having him come out. He was an old guy--but very experienced in keys and locks. He placed the blank key into the igition switch cylinder and moved it back sideways in the lock cylinder several times. Looked for some new marks on the blank--used the rat tail file on the key --placed the key back into the cylinder again--and did this several times. He had the car started within five minutes!!. He later told me that Fords are easy to make keys for. I was amazed!!

I bet an experienced locksmith could make a key for your truck.

 

yes and no... thats called impression making. Its not particular to ford locks. This is a skill few locksmiths know how to do. Its also a hit or miss. Once you mess up and make a cut too deep, ur ***** out of luck! Your better off taking the ignition out and take it to a lock smith..

 

The Ford manual says you have to drill out the pin in the column.

 

Any real lock smith can make you a key fast or he is not a locksmith.

 

o really? i beg to differ. if you only knew what it takes to make a key from impressioning. If you have an old lock with crappy springs on the tumblers, good luck to you. Not to mention car doors and ignitions use waffer tumblers which are hell to get a mark from. AND you have to make your cut EXACTLY where the tumbler needs to rise/fall... cut to deep on one cut and ur done, on to a new blank to start from scratch.

Soo mr Bruce are you a locksmith? highly doubt it. O and if your going to say make a key from the door lock NOPE there are 2 more tumblers in the ignition that the door locks (tailgate/trunk in some cases) do not use. If it was really that easy to make a key, dont you think theft rate would be way up there?

My dads been a locksmith for 27 years and the owner of the shop has been a locksmith for over 50 years and still find it difficult to make keys for ignitions with out taking them apart. So next time think before you speak, its my number one pet peeve when people think they know what there talking about and DONT

 

I buy cars from the junk yards in northern Baja and they rarely have keys. all I know is when I need a key I have a list of people I can cal and every one of them can do the job for me. and this is in a very small town in Mexico. could be they teach them better down here. or maybe your dad just never got the hang of it.

 

A locksmith might be able to make a key, but many folks shy away once they hear the price. It ain't cheap (for good reason) and the price goes up quite a bit if he makes a housecall.
Drilling the cylinder out is almost guaranteed to damage the housing in the column. There are hardened steel parts inside that will (designed to?) deflect the drill bit.
There used to be a tool for removing Ford ignition cylinders without damaging the column, it was called a "Bypass Key". It worked like a wheel lock remover.
You break off the chrome "wing", tap the Bypass Key firmly onto the cylinder and turn it to the on position with a big wrench. You can then remove the cylinder in the usual manner. Of course, it destroys the cylinder. Here's one: http://tinyurl.com/yvcngv

With that said, you can do the same thing with a big screwdriver. You'll need one with wrench flats near the handle (like many Snap On screwdrivewrs). Break off the "wings" and Firmly tap the tip into the cylinder. While pushing firmly inward to keep it from camming out, turn the screwdriver with a wrench to the ON position. The innards of the lock cylinder will shear quite easily. Push the release pin and remove the cylinder.

 

but you take the ignition out correct. my dad has the hang of it. its not something you just do, its an aquired skill my friend...

come to think of it, were making a key my impression right now, easier than a car but still by impression none the less.

trust me, its not as easy as you think

 

no you dont need to take the ignition out