The ignition lock in my '75 Valiant is jammed - it won't accept the key. The transmission is in Park, the steering column is locked.

My son drove it to school in the morning, the car ran fine and he parked it, removed the key with no problem. Came back this evening and the lock just wouldn't take the key. I drove out there to try and help him but I couldn't get it either. Between the two of us, we made a considerable effort.

We didn't dismantle anything in the steering column, but just for kicks we hot wired the starter. The starter cranked and the engine turned over easily but would not start up. We left the car in the parking lot.

So ..... any idea how to deal with the jammed lock? Alternatively, any ideas on a workaround for it?

I have searched this site and looked through my FSM. Short of a brief description of How To Install A Lock Cylinder I did not see anything. I do not have a steering removal tool. Yet.

Thanks,


R. Wood

If you have a steering wheel puller, a punch and hammer you can get the old lock cylinder out and then start the car with a screwdriver. Once the wheel is off you should be able to see the little pin the holds the cylinder in the column. Whack the pin with the punch and you should be able to pull the cylinder out.

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Joshua

Just a thought...
Give the lock cylinder a little shot of your favorite spray lubricant. It might be that the tumblers are a little sticky, it might free them up. Might even give the cylinder a few sharp raps with a non-marring tool, it could shake something loose (after the spray and soak).

If you don't own the steering wheel puller, go borrow one from AutoZone, I'm sure they have them in their loan program.

Jerry

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There's a difference between ignorance and stupidity.
Ignorance is not knowing any better.
Stupidity is knowing, yet doing it anyway.

WD40 can work miracles in freeing up locks, but if it's broken, to properly remove it you'll need a lock plate compressor as well as a steering wheel puller. On several columns, I have carefully drilled the pin out, as I couldn't push it down to get the lock to slide out unless the key is in RUN, and that worked fine. The '75 FSM has good instructions.

I have also had luck with the old brutal slide hammer trick - the lock broke and came out without damaging the housing, but you run the risk of damaging the housing.

That's for the help, guys.

I was able to free it up and get the key to go in the ignition and turn. I started with compressed air, but then whacked it with a 2X2 and shot it with Liquid Wrench, using the thin straw nozzle. It worked. I then sprayed some on the key and worked it around some. Worked each time.

I had stopped by Advance Auto and gotten a steering wheel puller from their "Loan Program", which turned out to be very short term.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions.

R. Wood

Be advised, the problem is likely to recur, and you might want to replace the ignition lock now that you've "borrowed" a little more time out of the one that's in there now. That way you get to do the work at a place and time of your choosing, not its.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Good point. Does one go to a locksmith for a new ignition lock or to an auto supplier?

Auto parts store. Try for a good brand (Standard-BlueStreak or Echlin), not a "Lockz-o-matic" type nonbrand piece of junk from China.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.