Sister in law got stuck outside her local chipper last night in her fiesta (mid 90's I think) she could turn the key in the ignition, but with no resistance, there was no electrical activity and the steering lock would not come off, so the car could not even be towed. Sods law kicked in and where it was parked turned into a clearway in the morning! I was surprised to find how easy it was to ' hot wire' the car (can be done with a screwdriver and no damage, any wonder car theft is such a problem!!) however the steering lock was a pig to get off, and I really did not want to break it just to get it home... with alot of swearing and fiddling we got it off and got the car home, only to find that the spare key worked fine, and the key was at fault not the ignition barrel, DOH! a wasted hour and a half! I have never liked fords, or their keys. At least it was cheap to fix, a new key costing less that an ignition barrel, and possibly a busted steering lock if my patience didn't hold out!
Any body else had a problem with worn keys on Fords or other marques?
|
|
I had a similar problem with the same car. Key worked the lock ok but got progressively more difficult to operate in the ignition until it just would not turn. Fortunately it was gradual and we never got stranded. We had to use the red key to get a replacement.(as usual an extortionate price) I don't know if this is a particular problem with Fords but I've never had it with any other car.
|
|
I had it with my old BM 325tds (but then it was the worst made car I have ever owned).
|
See this quite a lot (Ford/Citroen/Peugeot) at high mileages. Often really amazing how much better a newly made key works.
David
|
|
|
|
I've had stiff keys in older Citroens/Pugs. I usually squirt a litle bit of WD40 on the key and lubricate the barrels about 3 or 4 times a year. Touch wood - I'm still out of jail.
Ian
|
I had trouble with worn keys and locks on my last Cavalier. Ended up swapping the lock barrels over. Never used the passenger one anyway.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Had a similar experience with a Merc 230E W124 - drove it into a volvo dealership to check the tyres and ...it would not start, the key would not budge but the steering was free. Was quite embarassing (they must have sold quite a few Volvo's that day).
Called the AA - who extracated the barrel in less that half an hour. Apparently a thin tube connecting the barrel (which worked the steering lock directly) and the ignition switch sheared. He rigged it so that the barrel was removed (and so no steering lock) and I could start the car with a twist of a screw driver. Had no desire to drive into Manchester at night (was 23) in this manner for a night out so car was locked up till an appointment was made to fix it the next day.
|
|
|
On a similar vein, does anyone know why there are often dire warnings *against* oiling the steering lock?
Rob F
|
Also use graphite to oil locks, just by a soft pencil from an art shop
If you use oil, then when mixed with dust a lovely gunge is the end result, which seizes locks
|
|
|
|
I've had to have both door locks and the ignition on my M reg escort repaired, and two keys replaced due to wear.
This must be a design fault! I expect to keep the car for a while yet and am not looking forward to the expense of having the locks done again (the boot lock is just about to give up).
Is there anything I can do to prolong the life of these locks (apart from getting in the window).
|
|
It dose not have remote locking!
|
|
|
|
|
Had it with a 1961 100-E Popular. Any FP series key opened it. Oh, I'm showing my age!
|
|
|
terry
Are you sure you didn't buy my old 100E.
OO 5434?
Or was it all 100Es?
|
|
Or mine OO2833 registered Dec 1961. Great fun in the wet what with zero grip and maniacal windscreen wipers.
|
|
|
No, 842 AYU (1961) if I remember rightly. Of course, in those days you could leave the thing unlocked and no-one would interfere with it.
Finally died when plates at the top of the front shockers rusred through. Replaced with an older (1959) 105E! Fond memories of those vacuum wipers though.
|
|
|
|
