Bad Key Cylinder?

[Ricko1966]

Yep - but headlights and dome light worked. That’s what started me down the path of a bad key cylinder.

Well had I known the headlights were working I wouldn't have been going down the path I was going down,but still am having a problem with the volt gauge. Is it working now?

 

[wildgoose]

Well had I known the headlights were working I wouldn't have been going down the path I was going down,but still am having a problem with the volt gauge. Is it working now?

Yep - it read 14 volts during the entire drive to the shop.

 

[Ricko1966]

Yep - it read 14 volts during the entire drive to the shop.

That's kinda weird isn't it? Starter and gauge both started working and quit working,same time. Seems weird

 

[wildgoose]

That's kinda weird isn't it? Starter and gauge both started working and quit working,same time. Seems weird

Yes I was confused… let me be clear… the starter, the key buzzer, the voltmeter in the panel, the red “Fasten Seat Belts” in the panel, and the turn signal indicators all did not work yesterday, however the dome light and headlights did. That’s why I was convinced something broke inside the column or key cylinder.

I don’t know that smacking the starter while my wife was turning the key actually did anything, but for now I will let my wife think she is the Squarebody Savior.

 

[bucket]

Yes I was confused… let me be clear… the starter, the key buzzer, the voltmeter in the panel, the red “Fasten Seat Belts” in the panel, and the turn signal indicators all did not work yesterday, however the dome light and headlights did. That’s why I was convinced something broke inside the column or key cylinder.

I don’t know that smacking the starter while my wife was turning the key actually did anything, but for now I will let my wife think she is the Squarebody Savior.

I would lean more towards a failing or mis-adjusted ignition switch, rather than the lock cylinder itself.

But if it does it again. See if you can turn the steering wheel with the ignition turned on. Then turn off the ignition and try turning the steering wheel and see if it locks in place or not. If it does, the ignition lock cylinder isn't the culprit.

Also, leave the key buzzer out of the diagnosis. Those things are incredibly unreliable these days, imho.

 

[wildgoose]

I would lean more towards a failing or mis-adjusted ignition switch, rather than the lock cylinder itself.

But if it does it again. See if you can turn the steering wheel with the ignition turned on. Then turn off the ignition and try turning the steering wheel and see if it locks in place or not. If it does, the ignition lock cylinder isn't the culprit.

Also, leave the key buzzer out of the diagnosis. Those things are incredibly unreliable these days, imho.

It did lock in place once actually… I had to crawl out from under the truck to unlock it for my wife so she could turn the key. Thanks for the tip!!

 

[DoubleDingo]

Worn keys will cause the buzzer to not buzz.

 

[bucket]

It did lock in place once actually… I had to crawl out from under the truck to unlock it for my wife so she could turn the key. Thanks for the tip!!

I forgot one other thing... If it acts up again, try starting it in a gear other than Park. Assuming it's an automatic of course.

Based on the fact that the seatbelt light wasn't coming on, I don't think this will make a difference, but it's easy enough to try.

 

[wildgoose]

I forgot one other thing... If it acts up again, try starting it in a gear other than Park. Assuming it's an automatic of course.

Based on the fact that the seatbelt light wasn't coming on, I don't think this will make a difference, but it's easy enough to try.

it’s a manual… SM465 with 4WD

 

[CountKrunk]

To add an experience my truck after driving a while, turn off. Go to turn back on 10 min later. Nothing, completely dead. Banged on the starter, back to normal.

 

[wildgoose]

Picked up the truck today as the shop couldn’t reproduce the starting issue. It started for them every time… probably 20-30 times over the last day or so. They cleaned up some wiring and added an engine block to chassis ground. It fired right up for me at the shop but now at gas station on the way home and same problem. Dead and won’t restart. Looks like it’s time to investigate the starter wiring or the starter itself.

 

[wildgoose]

The only other thing I’ve noticed is the headlights are stuck in high beam as the switch will not click to reset them to low beam only.

 

[YakkoWarner]

Picked up the truck today as the shop couldn’t reproduce the starting issue. It started for them every time… probably 20-30 times over the last day or so. They cleaned up some wiring and added an engine block to chassis ground. It fired right up for me at the shop but now at gas station on the way home and same problem. Dead and won’t restart. Looks like it’s time to investigate the starter wiring or the starter itself.

If it were me (and they charged you for any service) - I'f be calling the shop to come pick it back up and fix it right.

Had a situation once where a shop replaced an A/C compressor - settled up and drove about 10 miles before the belts shredded off. Called them right from the side of the road and they sent a tow out, took it right back in and put the right pulley spacers on the second time. Yes it was their mistake, but they made it right at their expense so in the end it was all acceptable.

 

[Ricko1966]

The only other thing I’ve noticed is the headlights are stuck in high beam as the switch will not click to reset them to low beam only.

Get,or make a remote start switch while it's dead. I just use a quarter some people use a screw driver. Short the solenoid wire to the positive post if the starter cranks,it's not the starter,something isn't sending signal to the starter.If it doesn't crank check for 12 volts to the positive starter lead,check it with a home made test light using an old head light or cigerette light plug in defroster etc. The goal is test it with something that pulls a little amperage not just an led bulb that a firefly could set off. If you have 12v ,change the starter.

 

[wildgoose]

If it were me (and they charged you for any service) - I'f be calling the shop to come pick it back up and fix it right.

Had a situation once where a shop replaced an A/C compressor - settled up and drove about 10 miles before the belts shredded off. Called them right from the side of the road and they sent a tow out, took it right back in and put the right pulley spacers on the second time. Yes it was their mistake, but they made it right at their expense so in the end it was all acceptable.

Yeah well… I’ll call him and let him know but he was heading out of town on an urgent family thing. I know for a fact he didn’t cause this issue though. Yesterday when I took it in, I witnessed it starting properly at least 5 times before I left. We were all hoping it would show the same symptoms and not start so they could troubleshoot but after that many attempts and it starting fine, I agreed to leave it for the night. Today he said they left it out in the cold for 4 hours to let it get stone cold like it was for me. It still started on the first attempt. The only other work they did was add the extra ground and replace some alternator wiring. He said he could put a starter on it if I wanted to but didn’t see the need to if it was now starting fine. We agreed it would come right back if it acted up again.