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I am brand new to this forum. This is my first post. I have a question to anyone out there with the knowledge that I do not have.
I have an '84 F150 base model 6 cyl 4 spd 2wd. I drive this truck daily until a couple of days ago that is. A couple of days ago when I took the key out of the ignition it locked like it always does. When I got back into the truck for the life of me I could not get the ignition to unlock. I have done this a hundred times before and it has always unlocked when I wiggled the steering wheel. But this time it absolutely will not unlock. I have pulled the thing apart to just the components and I can't see the locking mechanism. Do I need to pull the wheel off to see that? Do I need a new steering column? This is a dumb problem to have I know but nonetheless it is a problem.
If I can't get the ignition to unlock, how difficult is it to hotwire this type of truck. I need to drive it and at the moment do not have the cash to get a new ignition
When you put the key in, it will not turn? Or does it turn a little bit and then stop? If it won't turn at all, I suspect your ignition lock cylinder where the key goes in is bad. You can take a chisel or a screwdriver, and get behind the chrome part and break it off, and then slide a small screwdriver up in beside the cylinder and push the keeper pin and pull the whole thing out. A new one is about $14.00, but you can start it with a screwdriver till you get the time or the money to fix it.
If it turns some, but then stops, then that's going to be further down in the column, which is going to require disassembly.
It will not turn at all. I read your post and broke the chrome thing off now I am looking at the assembly and do not see a keeper pin. I saw two pins on either side of where the key is located and I pressed them both in and they shot out, they were spring loaded. Is the keeper pin on the side of the cylinder?
Thank you very much for your help it is much appreciated