Please post if your ignition has locked!

[Dwzx3fc]

It's a little late in this big thread but, try using graphite powder in the ignition
cylinder. It's the best dry lube for lock cylinders. Good luck guys.

[PEBKAC CPU]

It happened to me about 5 months ago. Only cost me about $100(Installed) . It's good to know poeple

And appearantly I got a revised one that will eliminate it from locking up

[focusslave]

Mine just locked again today. This is the forth time it has happened to me. This will be five ignitions in six years. My first one went out at only 24,000 miles. I'm a single woman and would like to think that I could get into my new car and go without always having the fear of being left stranded. Ford may not think this is a safety issue, but I beg to differ. The key always turns fine with no indication of a problem and then out of the blue it just locks up and I'm stuck where ever! So many people have this problem with the Focus, yet the dealership always acts surprised, like they've never heard of such an issue. I will never buy another Ford product.

[SuperFlea]

Mine went out on me 2 weeks a go. Cost me $ 90.00, i had it fixed by a local locksmith, he said he installed a new "revised" switch, better then the regular focus'. Luckly this happened at my house, the locksmith came to fix it like at 9 pm.

[Auto0utcast]

it happened to me once... i worked at a chrysler dealer... theres a pin that holds everything in place.. if u can insert a pin to dislodge the lock cylinder it slides right out.. (i was an assistant service manager) i had one of my mechanics re-key the lock cylinder and it cost me absolutely nothing... did the removal and reinstallation myself (with no prior knowledge) in approx 35 mins... not that hard.

[|Chris|]

YES!

Today was such a great day. I leave for work at 730am Work all day until about 630pm. Come home and the wife calls me cause the key wont turn. I think its something simple like a steering column lock or whatever.

No nothing works. So I am guessing its this problem you all speak of.

[dank4life]

me too. I'm glad this happened though. I was ready to drive my car off a cliff last night, but it wouldnt start. good info on this thread though. i should have it fixed in no time. then back to business

[|Chris|]

Well the dealership only charged something like $65 - The keyhole looks all shiny and - definately non Ford issue. (all dull looking and marked with the key positions.) So I wonder now if this is going to happen again or what... if its a fixed part then I would hope it doesnt happen again.

Anyone who can tell me what a "revised" or updated part looks like, would be appreciated.

[mmeasor]

Mine locked up about 80k. I know a guy so it only cost me $150. Either way I was late to work, I blocked people in, and I was w/o a car for a couple days.

[|Chris|]

Well I thought my problem was fixed. It was - the key bit. But Now my radio is messed up and you hear some cycling with the engine RPMs on every station. This never happened before SO I must assume the mechanic had something to do with it.

[MissGoddess]

YUP! I have a 200 Focus ZX3 5-Speed. At first I had problems turning the key, and it wouldn't turn, but sometimes, I would get it to work. But one night at the most inconvienient time, it wouldn't turn. I had to have the car towed, and I had to get a new ignition, and IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. (Like most things.)

[Phileeeeeeep]

Yes! I get to join you all in having this problem! I got off work and the key worked fine, drove it to a gas station, pumped the gas, got inside to start it and the key would not turn at all....so we will see what this is all about monday cause conviently this happened on a saturday night and we all know dealers dont like to be open on sundays!

[SuperFlea]

Originally Posted by Phileeeeeeep

and we all know dealers dont like to be open on sundays!

lazy bums j/k

[Phileeeeeeep]

Originally Posted by SuperFlea

lazy bums j/k

oh i know huh! damn them for not wanting to work on sundays! haha

[351truckin]

ALOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO BLAME FORD BUT LOOK AT YOUR KEYCHAIN MAYBE THATs TOO MUCH WEIGHT OR MAYBE YOU JAM THE HELL OUT OF YOUR ING. BECAUSE YOUR MAD EVERY TIME you LOOK AT IT. CHILL OUT FIND ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

[scottdurand]

I had this problem "TWICE" on my 00' Focus. Needless to say I was not amused. Especially considering the second time was 13 months after the first so the Ford dealership would not replace the first one so I had to pay twice. I was livid with them.

[scottdurand]

Also since there is a "revised" version shouldn't that fall under what would be considered a less the satisfactory first version? Ford should be reimbursing ppl for the expense of changing all these locks. Or at least giving us gift certifcates at FFRP.

[SuperFlea]

Originally Posted by 351truckin

ALOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO BLAME FORD BUT LOOK AT YOUR KEYCHAIN MAYBE THATs TOO MUCH WEIGHT OR MAYBE YOU JAM THE HELL OUT OF YOUR ING. BECAUSE YOUR MAD EVERY TIME you LOOK AT IT. CHILL OUT FIND ROOT OF THE PROBLEM

I don't want to sound like an asshat but...



When you type in all caps, It seems to me like you're upset or something.

Ok, now... people blame Ford because Ford made the car, and yes, the dealer can be such a pain to deal with.

About the weight on my keys, i only have the remote for the alarm and the key, that's about it. It's from wear through time on the cylinder.

[Froggmann]

Originally Posted by |Chris|

Well I thought my problem was fixed. It was - the key bit. But Now my radio is messed up and you hear some cycling with the engine RPMs on every station. This never happened before SO I must assume the mechanic had something to do with it.

I just had to drill the GF's Ign. tumbler out on tuesday. Now I'm hearing a wine in the background of the radio. And that is not something I noticed in her car before.

Anyways guys what is the best (cheapest) source for the tumblers? Or if there is an alternitive tumbler out there what is it?


We are trying to get this car ready to be traded in. I'm sorry guys a car with 60,000 miles should not have this many problems. Plus My GF is 5'4" and her school is not in the best part of town. I gotta get her something that when she puts the key in the Ign and turns it it will start and not overheat and not hesitate when pulling into traffic and doesn't vibrate like a paint shaker in the mornings and doesn't have a tranny that flips out in stop and go traffic and well... you guys get the idea. Needless to say I'm perturbed that a car she bought for 14K 3 years ago has depreciated close to 9K and has to be started with a screwdriver.

[sublimetime86]

Damn,
Add me to the list! I put the key in and nothing moved. The key wouldn't turn and the wheel wouldn't turn. I dropped$450 when all was said and done for labor towing and parts. I'm going to look around to see if there is anything more I can do about this besides bitching, but if anyone else know more please e-mail me or PM me.

[mrb321us]

The first ignition lock on my 2000 Focus was replaced in the 2nd year under warrenty. I just had it replaced again four years later. As per locksmith poster's advice on this site I had an AAA approved locksmith in Portland, OR replace poorly-designed OEM lock with Strattec 707592. He says he does about 10 a week. Total was $210 with a new key, but since I'm an AAA Plus member and the club covered $100. This included $25 for transferring the chip from my old key to a new one. The tech said Ford dealers are ripping off Focus owners by still installing the flawed OEM ignition lock. He said dealers either don't understand the problem or are willing to keep installing replacement locks that will eventually fail as a way of propping up their service departments. With such a lack of attention to detail in product quality is it any wonder Ford now has junk status on Wall Street and their share price is about the same as a fast food meal at McDonald's? Bill Ford talks the talk, but he sure isn't capable of walking the walk.

[punklife04]

I paid $100 at the locksmith. 50 for the new ignition and 50 for labor. But for a desperate times just stick the key in and tap it with a hammer. It should turn.

[Froggmann]

Originally Posted by Froggmann

I just had to drill the GF's Ign. tumbler out on tuesday. Now I'm hearing a wine in the background of the radio. And that is not something I noticed in her car before.

Anyways guys what is the best (cheapest) source for the tumblers? Or if there is an alternitive tumbler out there what is it?


We are trying to get this car ready to be traded in. I'm sorry guys a car with 60,000 miles should not have this many problems. Plus My GF is 5'4" and her school is not in the best part of town. I gotta get her something that when she puts the key in the Ign and turns it it will start and not overheat and not hesitate when pulling into traffic and doesn't vibrate like a paint shaker in the mornings and doesn't have a tranny that flips out in stop and go traffic and well... you guys get the idea. Needless to say I'm perturbed that a car she bought for 14K 3 years ago has depreciated close to 9K and has to be started with a screwdriver.

Welp, NM on my post we traded it in on sunday for a new Toyota Tacoma. I have sworn off of Fords due to this car and a previous experiance with a Crewcab dually where Ford knew there was a problem but did nothing but deny it was a problem as well. If Ford's history has any bearing of the future I will never buy a ford again.

[SuperFlea]

wow, i guess it's also the run of your luck? I've had 4 Fords and i have never had any problems with any of them.

[Froggmann]

No I just do not like it when a company sells you a product then when it has multiple problems on a mass produced product and refuses to fix them, that tells me that company doesn't care about their business or their customers. I have owned fords all of my life many of them have been fantastic machines but when I see a vehicle with this many problems and the company that created it contunes to put the same parts in them, uses the same failed technology to contunue production and then doesn't acknoledge it's mistakes let alone fixes them I'm sorry I'm going to spend my hard earned money elsewhere.

Oh yea I forgot there was two other vehicles that got me on guard about ford the Contour and Mysteque (sp?) my family had both and both let us down the same way.