Ignition locked up

[cramezl]

I got home a little while ago and when I pulled up in front of the house, I couldn't turn my truck off. Never had that happen before. I tried every trick I could think of. I finally had to bump the starter and it finally let itself go backwards. Any ideas?

 

[89Suburban]

Time to open up the steering column and start poking around. I would look at the ignition key cylinder first. They seem to wear out. Can you pull your key out while the truck is running?


Posted From Hell

 

[cramezl]

Yes, I can pull it out while it's running.

 

[X-cabsquarebody]

My truck did the same thing to me last year. I had to pull the wire to the coil to shut it off, then disconnect the battery. The key tumbler fell apart inside and all the little parts locked it down. You need to re place you ignition key lock.

 

[cramezl]

Dang it! Guess that's what I'll be doing today.

 

[towjoe]

I've had 3-4 with tumbler jam up while running. Pretty common thing for a peace of wore off key to fall down inside of it and lock up. At least it's only a 15 min fix if you have the lock plate tool

 

[cramezl]

Well I never did anything about it. I just had to push in to get it to turn off. Bit me in the butt Friday when it locked up and wouldn't start...and I ended up being late for a wedding rehearsal. It spent the weekend at the dry cleaners until I could get a pull to start it. Time for a new ignition lock clyinder!

 

[bucket]

It's happened to me a few times before too. I even had a 1 year old NAPA lock cylinder get jammed up on me. I always get an AC Delco now, either that or just put in one of my good used ones. Just depends on how soon I need to use the vehicle.

 

[Irishman999]

I've had 3-4 with tumbler jam up while running. Pretty common thing for a peace of wore off key to fall down inside of it and lock up. At least it's only a 15 min fix if you have the lock plate tool

Lock plate tool, yes.

Sent from my ADR8995 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cramezl]

Went out the other day and realised the damn thing doesn't even require a key. Drove it all weekend with my keys in my pocket. What happened? Is that an installation issue or a part failure?

Sent from my HTC Hero S using Tapatalk 2

 

[chengny]

Part wear and tear - the pins are all probably stuck in the up position within the tumblers (I don't know much about locks so don't quote me).

Anyway, I'm sure you'd rather just get it fixed rather than figure out why it broke -right?


Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggRdEH-Wc4s

 

[HotRodPC]

Went out the other day and realised the damn thing doesn't even require a key. Drove it all weekend with my keys in my pocket. What happened? Is that an installation issue or a part failure?

Sent from my HTC Hero S using Tapatalk 2

Is this with a new lock cylinder or the same old one you've been having issues with? Obviously you know the old one is bad. Replace it. Chances are the pins have stuck and held position after you pulled the key out last time. You're not going to get by with it much longer till you end up stranded or late again going somewhere.

 

[chengny]

Frickin' kids huh?

 

[cramezl]

Not the old one. I put a brand new one in in September or October. Surely it didn't break already.

Sent from my HTC Hero S using Tapatalk 2

 

[HotRodPC]

No, I would hope not. I'll still stick with that the tumbler pins stuck in place when you pulled the key out last time and didn't fall back home leaving the lock portion unlocked.

So, I'd try to shoot some powered graphite, not a bunch, just a little bit, into the lock, then shove the key in and push it in and out real fast several times and see if the graphite will lube the pins. If that doesn't seem to do the trick, blow a little air in it to push the graphite thru as much as possible and then put a few drops of 3in1 or sewing machine oil in the lock and do the same thing with the key. The trick is going to be getting those pins lubed.