Please post if your ignition has locked!

[BogusFocus03]

Looks like I'm yet another victim of Fords faulty ignition switch. I parked my car at a parking lot near my work and the parking attendants couldn't turn the ignition and move the car. When I came out from work I couldn't turn the key in the ignition at all either. So I called roadside service and while waiting for them, searched the internet for a solution. By the time the tow truck arrived I figured out how to unlock the ignition by putting the key in the ignition and hitting the tip of it with my fist twice maybe three times, really hard, and it unlocked it. At least it turned and I didn't have to pay any additional money for the tow truck.

I called Ford and demanded that they pay for my repair since they decided to install poorly engineered parts. The guy was giving me the runaround and told me there was nothing he could do. I told him there would be a lawsuit then and he said he'd have his supervisor call me and the supervisor never called me. Looks like Ford will be shelling out lots of back money for all these faulty ignitions (unless they declare bankruptcy). What's so hard about having this problem re-called?
Whatever happened to good old-fashioned American quality?! My next car will be a Maza 3!

A locksmith is a good idea, never would have thought of that.

[BogusFocus03]

You probably replaced it by now, but, you put the key in the ignition and pound on the tip of it with your fist twice and turn the key. It worked for me.

[Scorpion]

Well, seems like I am a victim of this too. Got to in-laws tonite, on the way to go skiing. Loaded up car, got in...key wont go in. Played with it for about an hour, but no go. Gonna go back tomorrow and see if I can use the wd-40/tapping with a hammer method to get it to go in and turn. If I can, I'll replace it with a new one. If not, I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend grrrrrrrrrr

I'll let ya know!

[pimpinthefocus03]

i have replaced 2 of these in my focus and it always seems to happen when i am at least 20-30 miles from home on the third one now hopefully it stays up if it happens again i am getting a new truck

[allornothing]

Add Me To The List, I Had To Pay The Aaa Guy, That Was Bout A 2years Ago, And Now, This Morning.... It Does Not Turn On, It Does Not Lock Outta The Ignition Postion Like Last Time, But Has No Reaction As I Switch Into Ignition, I Turn The Key, As If The Battery Was Dead But Its Not, I Have To Push Start It And Fine, Could It Be The Starter??? And I Wonder??

[orangeZXT]

mine locked on teh dyno 2 hours from my home

the lock smith that put mine in said it was only time before the 2nd one locked he said it was a junk part (ford part) and he changes them all the time cost me 235 bucks and about 4 to 5 hours of my time

[Dougie109]

mine happened twice.. it locked up as i was getting my oil changed.. then again.. a day later.. they said after it all it was a computer that made the car thing it was still in drive when it was really in park.. hopefully that helps you guys next time...

[DantesZx3]

Originally Posted by LemonGT

1. m3th0d
2. Hi-Risk
3. focuz04
4. 03' ZX3’s sister
5. SoCalFocus
6. so smooth
7. schnack
8. monkeyman28
9. bumpmaster’s sister
10. atomics20
11. northcal_zx3
12. k0nafocus
13. Hocus Focus 2001
14. Brian Walsh
15. Fordowner
16. biker16
17. cloud9focus
18. chilsilbull
19. focusSvT01
20. Krmnnghia
21. PsiSapper
22. Claypoolio
23. 1BadEgg
24. Goobah
25. UNSPACY
26. Crankenstein
27. Jared
28. Peggy_Bundy
29. LemonGT
30. S2DOHC
31. red2000zx3
32. Decepitcon Zetec
33. focuSTZ
34. red2000zx3
35. 3 Stripes

I'm going to try and take Ford to small claims court. Does anyone mind if I use this list or their screen name in court?

This is a great idea...but i believe it would hold more water if instead of just having screennames you had real names and prob phone numbers to have the best chance....i dont think those names mean much...i mean anyone can post names up and number them in random order ya know?

[Tremere]

I have had two lock outs.

[rajpr00]

go ahead and add me to the list.

'03 ZX3 with 37k on the odometer. Just happened to me twice this last weekend but I was able to get it started with some vigorous wiggling. I'll definitely be replacing the damn thing soon

[Seawolf]

Me too. Fortunately, I was at home when it happened.

[svtuner1433]

My Girl Had This Happen It Cost $280.00 So Add Me To The List Also Im Down This Is Crap It Sould Be A Recall Just Like Half The Crap That Im Fixing On My Svt But What Can You Do

[galeano]

are people who work with ford registered the forums? knowing this is a common problem something should be done.

[viper122]

2000 Focus. About a year ago. Cost me $180 to have a locksmith come out and drill it out. Keyed the new cylinder for me. Got $100 back from AAA, so $80. Much better than some of the $200+ horror stories at dealerships.

[allski]

Add mine also. This is bull****! My wife was skiing yesterday with a car load of kids and it locked. 200 km's away. Sat there for an hour and everything was closing. Luckly a guy happened along and offerd some assistance. My wife was in tears and near a nervous break down. He got it to turn eventually. Hats off to him. Wish I could give him my thanks.
Ford should have the balls to deal with this and save some face. I know I will be telling everyone I know about the problem and not recommend the car to anyone. I also have a clunky front end noise. Sounds like a chuckwagon. The car has less than 95,000 km's .

Repair bill: $350.00 + taxes

Very pissed: Allski

[FORDSVTPARTS]

This is caused by a lack of lubrication in the lock cylinder and is easy to prevent.

The cylinder in my wifes ZX3 was getting stiff and one day it would'nt turn.

I jad a cylinder built and went home, before I tried changing it I smeared lock lube on the key and worked it in the old cylinder a few times.

This freed up the old cylinder and I probably could have left it at that but since I had the new cylinder already I replaced it anyways.

The cylinder replacement takes about 25 minutes and no real special tools.

If you had the cylinder replaced under warranty or if you paid to have it done and it fails again then this means that whoever built the new cylinder did not lubricate it properly.

All Ford parts come with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty so if a new cylinder fails then take it back.

If your ignition lock cylinder starts feeling sticky and doesn't operate freely get some lock lube and use it.

It's as simple as greasing up the key and working it in and out of the cylinder and turning it back and forth.

IT WORKS!!

The guy who builds the cylinders where I work said that ALL of the failed ignition cyliders he had seen were totally dry, no lubrication at all.

My SVT was starting to give me trouble as well and all I did was lube the cylider and it has been perfect ever since.

[ukcuhp]

mine has locked... twice. i now have the ignition cylinder out of my brothers totalled car in my car.

[allornothing]

add me to the list please, im on my second and already giving me problems again, sometimes key stucks going and/or ou, its embarassing

[eurotrader99]

Light control 2003 Focus
Mine key locked in place and would not move. Being that I did not want to call a tow truck, I was in a parking lot and just refuse, I got my lug wrench out of the trunk and beat the living god out of the ignition until I was able to pull it out and remove the pins. problem now is no low beam headlights. does anyone know where the sensor for the lights is? I taped the key to the starter control so it would start ,it broke from trying to force it around,but can not figure out where the sensor is for the lights I am going to put a push button starter control. It still locks the door with the fob and now I am to the point if someone really wants to take it I wish them luck

[01S2]

I was at work, a locksmith fooled with the tumblers until it worked and the great news is now I cab take the keys out while the car is running

[BLUE_02_ZX3]

mine is still broken, If anyone ever steals my car Ima sue the S*** out of ford for making me have to leave the key in the ignition.
I still cant afford to allocate a couple hundred smacks for this.
oh and use my name if you like. but It might be better to get all of our real names.
mine is Danny Mulford

[papashonga]

Well, it happened to me just today... had to walk from work to the house, then looked here and wow! must be a common problem..... so, how do i fix this? key will freely go in and out of the slot, but will not turn..... even after vigorous wiggling. do i need to somehow pull the whole cylinder out and replace it, or do i have to make a project of it and dismantle the entire dash?

[SaTaNcLaUz]

if you take the shroud off of the steering column you can access the iginition cylinder, there is a little hole toward the driver seat that you push in a spring-loaded pin to remove the cylinder

i just removed the push-bar that was causing the problem (although some have stated that the actual tumblers were locking up, which those can be removed/fixed too if needed)

yes anything can turn my cylinder now, but, unless they have my PATS code its not going to start



riddle me this, what is stopping someone from starting our cars? the key? or the PATS?

i weighed the risks and benefits and removed the side push-bar

heh

[iTrentz]

Add me to the list. I just walked through the door, had to leave me car in the parking lot at a Rite Aid. And get this, I call my wife to pick me up, her Ford Escape won't start! Sigh... Now that's Ford Quaility!

[logistiker]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned it on this forum but there is a Strattec ignition cylinder you can use to replace that POS ford part so you don't have the lockup problems anymore. Locksmiths who deal with cars know about it. I took it to a Locksmith and he replaced the part for $230 (part and labor). I asked him if he had worked on other Ford Focus'. He said over a hundred. I don't remember the part number off hand but if someone wants it I can find it and post it. One note on the strattec part though is you won't get the chime sound anymore if you're an idiot and leave your keys in the ignition after shutting off the car.