Please post if your ignition has locked! - Page 12 - Focaljet

**secondechomatt** · 09-26-2005, 10:00 PM

Mine went once as well.

helloooo recall????????

**Dazed42** · 10-01-2005, 01:17 PM

Mine is starting to do it again, it has been about 15 months since the lock was replaced. This is some [censored].

**CavalryScout** · 10-03-2005, 05:55 PM

Yep, my 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 can now join this club aswell. The ignition stopped working at 40000 miles... I have now mastered my "wiggling the key to start this lemon - time" from approximately 60 minutes to roughly 30 seconds. Wohoooo! Of course I am considering having it fixed, but the more I read about this issue the more clearer it gets that this would probably only be a "temporary" fix, considering the embarrassing quality of the locks that are being used.
I had considered getting rid of the car before (simply too many problems with this thing, f.e. complete brake replacement after only 2000 miles), and now I'm definetly gonna go through with this. Bye Bye Focus!!! Bye Bye Ford, for good!!!

**Broke_Two_Foci** · 10-03-2005, 07:27 PM

You can add me to the list as well for my 2000 lx did it with less than 25000 miles (loned the car to my brother, he never made it out of the driveway

) got lucky and fixed under warenty and thankfully the new car has not had a problem with that yet (fingers crossed)hope you guys get a recall soon so no one else has to suffer through this b.s.

edit I have found that a little graphite lock lube goes a long way with the focus ignition switch.

**Froggmann** · 10-12-2005, 05:10 PM

Hello everyone! I'm well, acutually my GF is the newest member of this club. 00 Kona ZX3, just a tick over 60,000 miles and right now I'm the only one that has the ability to drive the little beastie. Hopefully this friday I'll getthe bugger into Ford this friday to have that and the over heating problem tehy screwed up on fixed.

**Bulbasaur** · 10-15-2005, 10:14 PM

Hi, haven't posted for awhile been super busy and moved. I had mine lock up on the first of October. My bf (froggmann) is the only one who can drive it. So, now I can't start it, it overheats without the air on, the right door sometimes doesn't lock when I use my remote and the horn died yesturday. LOL!!! I LOVE my car but everyone around me is getting worried. Anyone else have any of these other probs? Thanx!

**slowlearner** · 10-17-2005, 12:51 PM

Not sure if it's the same problem: still the key in, but the key won't turn. Ford roadside said I had to "press the brake & the clutch and wiggle the steering wheel while turning the key". Ummmm, yeah, I know how to drive stick shift, and no amount of wiggling will make the key turn in the ignition.

Car was towed to the dealership. Dealership has replaced the tumblers in the ignition. Under warranty, no cost for the fix.

I asked the guy over the phone if this would happen again, he said "No, replaced with a new, updated part." Not sure if this is true or not, not sure how I would check if Ford has updated the part and if what was installed was an updated part. I'll have to get something in writing from them when I pick it up this afternoon.

Roadside assistance and the dealership knew exactly what the problem was when I described it. Given the number of complaints in various Focus forums, seems to be a problem affecting a large number older Foci. Mine is a 2003 SE.

**Dentman** · 10-20-2005, 07:06 PM

Mine locked the night before last. Cost $212 Can.to replace. I drive a '00 Wagon with a 140,000 Kms. on it.

**024door** · 10-25-2005, 09:54 PM

stick your key in and tap it with something this will unlock the ignition but when you pull the key out it will lock again.you will have to tap it every time.

**Jamal** · 10-29-2005, 10:12 AM

My wife's ZX3 has had this problem TWICE! The second time was just over a year since the first repair; so we had to pay again. So far this problem has cost us over five hundred dollars. It is shameful that Ford will not provide extended warranty on this problem.

**vitoal18t** · 10-31-2005, 02:35 AM

GUESS WHAT!!!!

My Ignition Locked.....FORD should suck it.......!!!!!!!!!!

**Daniel** · 10-31-2005, 05:40 PM

This has started happening to me as well recently. I've had it replaced once but it's being a bitch again. I'll order the new lock cylinder but for now I just hit the key in with the palm of my hand or a blunt object until it turns. What a piece of CRAP. Damned Focus...

**FocusZTS5spd** · 10-31-2005, 08:28 PM

mine didnt lock but i took the whole thing out with the key
THE WHOLE THING!!!

it was comin out with ease. this sucks, the second time it went out i put it back in the wrong way and it WAS STOCK in there for quite some time.

Ignition sucks in focus

**JustinG** · 11-01-2005, 12:42 AM

Had it happen to me as well, go figure!!!!!!!! Took it to Ford at it was just shy of $300. Sounds like a big problem.

**S2Texas** · 11-01-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Had it happen to me as well, go figure!!!!!!!! Took it to Ford at it was just shy of $300. Sounds like a big problem.

FREAKING CRAP....It finally went totally out. The dang thing Would NOT MOVE with the lovely little tap to the key like before....and yeah, just shy of $300. She is in the shop now....freaking STUPID CRAP...I wish I didn't love my car so dang much...wahhhhhhhhhhhh

**dabizzo1** · 11-06-2005, 01:44 PM

I'm in exile from Katrina in Dallas and yesterday, my ignition tumbler locked up and I couldn't turn the key. I waited for 3 hours until a tow truck brought my car to Middlekauff Ford in Plano. I posted a complaint at the nhtsa website and at fordvehicles.com. As if 11 feet of water in my neighborhood isn't enough, something so stupid leaving me stranded and costing me money amidst all of this adds insult to injury, and as much as I love my car and keep it aesthetically and mechanically perfect, I will without a doubt get rid of the car and get a Nissan Maxima. Foci are cool ass cars but corners were cut at our expense. Ford is playing the equation game with this issue...will it cost more to recall the car or to pay off litigation? Until the nhtsa mandates a recall, we're sitting ducks.

**dabizzo1** · 11-07-2005, 09:45 AM

Please add me to the list LemonGT. I just got off the phone with customer care and nothing will be done to help me. $400 later, a revised tumbler and 2 new keys will be installed by Middlekauff Ford in Plano, TX. Without this being done, I cannot get back to NOLA. I will pursue legal action and this was the last straw.....I'm getting a Nissan...F$%@k this car. Boris Palacios

**John B** · 12-14-2005, 03:44 PM

It happened to me, and it turned out my battery cable had corroded just enough to where if I opened the hood and jiggled the wire, it would let me turn the key and start it again, but it was hit or miss since corrosion is a crusty thing. I have never seen so many "rigged" wires run directly to the battery. Must have been the dealer-installed cruise control I had put in years ago.

**j20000** · 12-18-2005, 02:55 AM

mine just went bad for the 5th time. I have a 2000 ZX3 with 75,000 miles. And NO other keys hanging form my key ring (which they say is the cause of the problem every time I take it to the dealership to be fixed). Im having my dad, who is a manager at a Ford dealership in PA, have a new one built for me. So at least I wont have to pay to have it fixed again. at almost $300 per time, I have spent almost $1500. Plus my dad said that they sell at about 3-4 of them every month. Ford REALLY needs to make this a recall...but I guess that wouldnt make Ford any money.

**snowykitty** · 12-20-2005, 12:33 PM

Yes, the ignition has locked on me as well.

I had a Ford Explorer before my Focus, and the ignition locked on that too.

**frdfocszx3** · 12-20-2005, 10:51 PM

You can add me to the club. I had my ignition replaced two weeks ago.

**kfink04** · 12-21-2005, 04:37 PM

I have been driving around for a year with my keys stuck in the ignition. I have already had to put so much money into this piece of junk that I refuse to spend any more money. As of yesterday my O/D off light is on and I can not get it turn back on. This is my first and last Ford. Chevy or Mopar from now on.

**myfocusstinks** · 12-25-2005, 08:35 PM

HELP! i have an ignition that is stuck. I had a friend (locksmith) look at it and he said it needs replacing because of the tumblers. (sometimes contact spray and silicon can free up the tumblers, not this time.) My car is currently at work, i am not. This is really a pain. i need to find DIY instructions for doing this replacment as it is not under warranty and i am not made of money, great time of the year for this to happen. (Merry Christmas) My friend can get the parts but we are worried about the electonics involved. If anyone has replaced this part please, please let me know how to do it. Step by Step would be great! I surfed the web, man there are lots of references to this problem but no instructions of how to fix it. HELP!(penny_woodard@hotmail.com)

**focuspl99** · 12-26-2005, 11:49 AM

i need to bring this post back from the dead!!!!!!!!!!!!! wanted to fire up the focus today...... key wouldnt turn after 20 minutes of toying with it im ****ing pissed

2nd occurance for me grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

**Karen24** · 12-26-2005, 09:45 PM

Happened to me last night. My 3 yr old daughter and I were stranded on Christmas day due to the key not turning in the ignition. Towed to Ford and called in the morning. He knew it was the tumbler without even looking at it. I asked if it happens often and he said ALL the time.$350 & christmas ruined. Where's the recall Ford? This is ridiculous the amount of people this has happened to.

09-26-2005, 10:00 PM	#276
secondechomatt Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Boston, MI. Posts: 4,289	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Mine went once as well. helloooo recall????????

10-01-2005, 01:17 PM	#277
Dazed42 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Fort Hood, TX Posts: 1,456	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Mine is starting to do it again, it has been about 15 months since the lock was replaced. This is some [censored].

10-03-2005, 05:55 PM	#278
CavalryScout Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Yep, my 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 can now join this club aswell. The ignition stopped working at 40000 miles... I have now mastered my "wiggling the key to start this lemon - time" from approximately 60 minutes to roughly 30 seconds. Wohoooo! Of course I am considering having it fixed, but the more I read about this issue the more clearer it gets that this would probably only be a "temporary" fix, considering the embarrassing quality of the locks that are being used. I had considered getting rid of the car before (simply too many problems with this thing, f.e. complete brake replacement after only 2000 miles), and now I'm definetly gonna go through with this. Bye Bye Focus!!! Bye Bye Ford, for good!!!

10-03-2005, 07:27 PM	#279
Broke_Two_Foci Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: C.F.H. Posts: 3,723	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! You can add me to the list as well for my 2000 lx did it with less than 25000 miles (loned the car to my brother, he never made it out of the driveway ) got lucky and fixed under warenty and thankfully the new car has not had a problem with that yet (fingers crossed)hope you guys get a recall soon so no one else has to suffer through this b.s. edit I have found that a little graphite lock lube goes a long way with the focus ignition switch. Last edited by Broke_Two_Foci : 12-18-2005 at 10:11 PM.

10-12-2005, 05:10 PM	#280
Froggmann Rookie Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 25	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Hello everyone! I'm well, acutually my GF is the newest member of this club. 00 Kona ZX3, just a tick over 60,000 miles and right now I'm the only one that has the ability to drive the little beastie. Hopefully this friday I'll getthe bugger into Ford this friday to have that and the over heating problem tehy screwed up on fixed.

10-15-2005, 10:14 PM	#281
Bulbasaur Rookie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Costa Mesa, CA. Posts: 8	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Hi, haven't posted for awhile been super busy and moved. I had mine lock up on the first of October. My bf (froggmann) is the only one who can drive it. So, now I can't start it, it overheats without the air on, the right door sometimes doesn't lock when I use my remote and the horn died yesturday. LOL!!! I LOVE my car but everyone around me is getting worried. Anyone else have any of these other probs? Thanx!

10-17-2005, 12:51 PM	#282
slowlearner Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Not sure if it's the same problem: still the key in, but the key won't turn. Ford roadside said I had to "press the brake & the clutch and wiggle the steering wheel while turning the key". Ummmm, yeah, I know how to drive stick shift, and no amount of wiggling will make the key turn in the ignition. Car was towed to the dealership. Dealership has replaced the tumblers in the ignition. Under warranty, no cost for the fix. I asked the guy over the phone if this would happen again, he said "No, replaced with a new, updated part." Not sure if this is true or not, not sure how I would check if Ford has updated the part and if what was installed was an updated part. I'll have to get something in writing from them when I pick it up this afternoon. Roadside assistance and the dealership knew exactly what the problem was when I described it. Given the number of complaints in various Focus forums, seems to be a problem affecting a large number older Foci. Mine is a 2003 SE.

10-20-2005, 07:06 PM	#283
Dentman Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Mine locked the night before last. Cost $212 Can.to replace. I drive a '00 Wagon with a 140,000 Kms. on it.

10-25-2005, 09:54 PM	#284
024door Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! stick your key in and tap it with something this will unlock the ignition but when you pull the key out it will lock again.you will have to tap it every time.

10-29-2005, 10:12 AM	#285
Jamal Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! My wife's ZX3 has had this problem TWICE! The second time was just over a year since the first repair; so we had to pay again. So far this problem has cost us over five hundred dollars. It is shameful that Ford will not provide extended warranty on this problem.

10-31-2005, 02:35 AM	#286
vitoal18t TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 207	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! GUESS WHAT!!!! My Ignition Locked.....FORD should suck it.......!!!!!!!!!!

10-31-2005, 05:40 PM	#287
Daniel Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,104	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! This has started happening to me as well recently. I've had it replaced once but it's being a bitch again. I'll order the new lock cylinder but for now I just hit the key in with the palm of my hand or a blunt object until it turns. What a piece of CRAP. Damned Focus...

10-31-2005, 08:28 PM	#288
FocusZTS5spd Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: northern Illinois, Prospect Hts. Posts: 2,217	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! mine didnt lock but i took the whole thing out with the key THE WHOLE THING!!! it was comin out with ease. this sucks, the second time it went out i put it back in the wrong way and it WAS STOCK in there for quite some time. Ignition sucks in focus

11-01-2005, 12:42 AM	#289
JustinG Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Had it happen to me as well, go figure!!!!!!!! Took it to Ford at it was just shy of $300. Sounds like a big problem.

11-06-2005, 01:44 PM	#291
dabizzo1 Rookie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 11	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! I'm in exile from Katrina in Dallas and yesterday, my ignition tumbler locked up and I couldn't turn the key. I waited for 3 hours until a tow truck brought my car to Middlekauff Ford in Plano. I posted a complaint at the nhtsa website and at fordvehicles.com. As if 11 feet of water in my neighborhood isn't enough, something so stupid leaving me stranded and costing me money amidst all of this adds insult to injury, and as much as I love my car and keep it aesthetically and mechanically perfect, I will without a doubt get rid of the car and get a Nissan Maxima. Foci are cool ass cars but corners were cut at our expense. Ford is playing the equation game with this issue...will it cost more to recall the car or to pay off litigation? Until the nhtsa mandates a recall, we're sitting ducks.

11-07-2005, 09:45 AM	#292
dabizzo1 Rookie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 11	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Please add me to the list LemonGT. I just got off the phone with customer care and nothing will be done to help me. $400 later, a revised tumbler and 2 new keys will be installed by Middlekauff Ford in Plano, TX. Without this being done, I cannot get back to NOLA. I will pursue legal action and this was the last straw.....I'm getting a Nissan...F$%@k this car. Boris Palacios

12-14-2005, 03:44 PM	#293
John B RapMaster ConeBlaster Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Sumter, SC, USA Posts: 2,026	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! It happened to me, and it turned out my battery cable had corroded just enough to where if I opened the hood and jiggled the wire, it would let me turn the key and start it again, but it was hit or miss since corrosion is a crusty thing. I have never seen so many "rigged" wires run directly to the battery. Must have been the dealer-installed cruise control I had put in years ago. __________________ Clickies: MySpace / CarDomain / SCR-SCCA / ProFlaggers 2005-2008 SCR-SCCA STS Champion National F&C

12-20-2005, 12:33 PM	#295
snowykitty Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Yes, the ignition has locked on me as well. I had a Ford Explorer before my Focus, and the ignition locked on that too.

12-20-2005, 10:51 PM	#296
frdfocszx3 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Hurlburt Field, FL. Posts: 3,646	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! You can add me to the club. I had my ignition replaced two weeks ago. __________________ RIP Colin

12-21-2005, 04:37 PM	#297
kfink04 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! I have been driving around for a year with my keys stuck in the ignition. I have already had to put so much money into this piece of junk that I refuse to spend any more money. As of yesterday my O/D off light is on and I can not get it turn back on. This is my first and last Ford. Chevy or Mopar from now on.

12-25-2005, 08:35 PM	#298
myfocusstinks Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! HELP! i have an ignition that is stuck. I had a friend (locksmith) look at it and he said it needs replacing because of the tumblers. (sometimes contact spray and silicon can free up the tumblers, not this time.) My car is currently at work, i am not. This is really a pain. i need to find DIY instructions for doing this replacment as it is not under warranty and i am not made of money, great time of the year for this to happen. (Merry Christmas) My friend can get the parts but we are worried about the electonics involved. If anyone has replaced this part please, please let me know how to do it. Step by Step would be great! I surfed the web, man there are lots of references to this problem but no instructions of how to fix it. HELP!(penny_woodard@hotmail.com)

12-26-2005, 11:49 AM	#299
focuspl99 [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 6,310	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! i need to bring this post back from the dead!!!!!!!!!!!!! wanted to fire up the focus today...... key wouldnt turn after 20 minutes of toying with it im ****ing pissed 2nd occurance for me grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr __________________ Paul

12-26-2005, 09:45 PM	#300
Karen24 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1	Re: !Please post if your ignhtion has locked! Happened to me last night. My 3 yr old daughter and I were stranded on Christmas day due to the key not turning in the ignition. Towed to Ford and called in the morning. He knew it was the tumbler without even looking at it. I asked if it happens often and he said ALL the time.$350 & christmas ruined. Where's the recall Ford? This is ridiculous the amount of people this has happened to.

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