Please post if your ignition has locked!

[Topher352]

Hey LemonGT, have you made a recent tally on the number of people who have had this problem? Just curious. The thread has gotten a bit unwieldy to read the entire thing.

I've got the problem on a second focus now.. but this time I'll be ordering a cylinder from Steve (FORDSVTPARTS). I still can't believe this hasn't been acknowledged as a problem by Ford.

[rfgZTS]

Just happened to me the other day. I thought it was due to the cold weather, but then I remembered way back a post on Focaljet about the "ignition cylinder". I blew it off back then, but sure enough it's come back to bite me. I could get the key into the cylinder and remove it with no problem, but it wouldn't turn at all. I eventually got things back in working order with some WD-40. Sure enough, I saw little bits of metal pieces come out with the excess lubricant. Stellar build quality once again...haha. Right now it's at the dealer being repaired.

[rayarpt]

First time for me, 70,000 cost $400. 00 replaced with Ford part. Second time at 90,000, I used a little hammer to tap in key, it started. Had to use the little hammer even time I started car, but didn't need a tow. Found out Ford had a million of these ignition cylinders, so I went to my mechanic and said "No Ford Ignition Part". Up to 160,000 with no problems. Buy a little hammer for glovebox and you will save the cost of a tow. My mechanics price $200.00

[merrchelle]

my 2001 Focus locked up December 2006 and had it fixed by a AAA locksmith, $400.

i took my car in today to have the fuel injector recall parts replaced by Ford (as it was free per the recall). the mechanic then calls to tell me that the ignition is locking up (which it ISN'T) and would i like to replace it? i said no because i just had it replaced and haven't had any problems with it. hmmmmm! suspicious. i would normally never take my car to Ford dealer but the recall part replacement is free.

[jay1028]

My 2003 ignition cylinder would not turn either. Gave no warning at
all. After reading about so many problems with the same issue, I
decided to get a locksmith to fix it. Fortunately it quit in my
driveway. You can read horror stories about where others have had their ignition lock up and not turn. People got stranded for hours until someone came to tow or fix the cylinder. I have read that Ford just replaces the cylinder with the same piece of junk that just went bad. It has caused people to have the same problem again and again in the same car.

When the locksmith came to fix mine, he said the cylinder was
basically junk metal and was not happy with rebuilding it because it
could jam up again. I suggested to remove the tumblers that were
binding and leave the others in. The cylinder has eight and we left
three in. Some people removed them all and will never ever have the problem again. Since the car will not start without the key (PATS), you can get away with this. I elected to not have someone be able to turn the switch with just a screwdriver.

Google 'Ford Focus ignition switch problem' and you will see what some have done to remedy the situation. When the cylinder goes bad, it gives you no warning signs in advance. Just one day, you can't turn the key and you are stranded. Ford has had this problem since 2000 and when contacted, insists that it is not a problem that they have heard of. Cost $210 for the locksmith to come out on a Sunday morning. He could put in an aftermarket cylinder but I elected not to.

[Jeepsbeme]

Originally Posted by jay1028

I have read that Ford just replaces the cylinder with the same piece of junk that just went bad.

When I replaced mine a couple of years ago with the Ford replacement part, it was a completely different (and simpler) design than the original. It hasn't given me any problems since.

[zeteclover]

TWICE over $300.00 once over $400.00 the second. They wouldn't even give me warranty on the second time!

Yes the new redesigned part has been GREAT for nearly three years now!

[20focus03]

mine locked up...all i had to do was tap the key and it would turn....got mine replaced for free at the dealership the other day after finally having enough with tapping it....started at 35k now im at 70k.......

[opquickie]

Happened to me just a minute ago. I'm on here to see if it's a common problem and it looks like it. Locksmith is comin out from AAA to check it out and see if he can do anything. Otherwise, it's to the dealership tomorrow!

ADD ANOTHER TO THE LIST

[Topher352]

Just so these links exist in yet another post in this massive thread....

Buy this:
http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech...look-here.html

And do this:
http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech...nder-help.html

[opquickie]

turns out the AAA locksmith i mentioned above is very familiar with focus ignitions locking up. after using the hammer i was able to start the car and now i'm lookin to get the cylinder replaced. dealer said it $155 for the part...i've seen a guy on here sellin shipped and coded for $70!!


online petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/FocusIC/petition.html

[sliverbullet]

ya mine did... i payed 60 bucks for i locks smith to fix it... i wasn't about to pay 200 or 300 bucks...

[HawkeyeFLA]

This happened to me ... I guess it was about 2 years ago now. Had to have the car towed to the dealership to have it fixed. Car was out of warranty, so had to pay it all. Tow, replacement, 2 keys, and an oil change (full syn) was approx 450 bux. I was talking to a locksmith about a year ago when a friend of mine was locked out of his car, and the ls said its a very common occurance on the Focii, something I already knew, but to hear it from a pro was nice.

[astrologirl]

My inition locked in May of 2007 on my 2002 ZX3. Only a service bulletin item since no deaths have been tallied for a recall. Which of course really sucks because that means Ford will not pay for this particular problem. Had to have vehicle towed and new keys laser cut. (not even tapping lightly on key while in ignition worked) One tip, keep the very tip of your car key mint! This is the part that the ignition reads and if it is worn your ignition may not work.

[netty1981]

I have a 2003 Focus with maybe a little over 37,000 miles on it. I work at a preschool and on occasion I will babysit for some of our families. I have had very few problems with my car. There is an occassional problem, but I swear sometimes it is more of the dealerships problem of the issues with my car then any actual problem.

Well tonight, as I have read on many other posts, my ignition locked up. At first I thought that it was due to the cold weather and also thought of the few other times that it has locked up recently (I was able to fix it by turning the key the opposite direction...basically flipping it over). I can see that I was wrong and now know how a co-worker felt when her Focus did the same thing about a year ago.

I haven't even had a chance to have my car looked at yet by my Ford dealership. My car is still sitting at the house that I was at this evening, and they don't know that it is still there. I am thankful that I have family in the area that can come and give me a hand when I am stranded.

It is very frustrating to have things like this happen especially when ford knows that it is a problem. I hope that they will step up and do something...maybe start a recall.

is how i currently feel about my car...

[artemis]

This forum saved me on this issue. My ignition locked up twice, the first time at night on a lonely, dark, dangerous, freezing cold urban parking lot. I eventually called a locksmith who replaced my ignition switch for $275. Not three months later my new ignition switch locked up again. This time, as per the advice on this thread, I had the car towed to an ignition place and asked them to dump the tumblers out of the switch. Now any key will fit into the switch, but only my key with its transponder will actually turn the engine over. Permanent, easy fix. Cost me $90. Has served me well for a year now. I'm very grateful to you all! Not nearly so grateful to Ford, who would have me fix the same problem over and over again with a switch they know to be defective (even the after-market part is made by the same people and is no improvement) for $450 a pop.

[fastback570]

I bought a 2002 and drove it 40 minutes and it locked.

[Jeepsbeme]

Originally Posted by artemis

Not nearly so grateful to Ford, who would have me fix the same problem over and over again with a switch they know to be defective (even the after-market part is made by the same people and is no improvement) for $450 a pop.

When I got my replacement part from Ford for around $80 2-3 years ago it was a completely different design than the original, so I really question the validity of your statement that the switch they provide as a service part is one "they know to be defective". This new (and vastly simpler design) hasn't failed me yet.

[DallasMike]

Count me in. 2001 ZTS. 110k miles. No prior warning, went out to go to work this morning and key won't even go all the way in. Will be reading up on the fix here today.

[DallasMike]

Originally Posted by DallasMike

Count me in. 2001 ZTS. 110k miles. No prior warning, went out to go to work this morning and key won't even go all the way in. Will be reading up on the fix here today.

Ok, back up and running. Since I have AAA and they cover locksmith service up to $100, I called them. I had pulled the cylinder and gave it to the locksmith when he got there. He came back with the Strattec 707592 all ready to go. My out of pocket was $70.

Ford still sucks for not covering this - but I love my Focus

[mlmcdallas]

It happened to me, and is apparently a common problem in the Focus. I got the part from the dealership, and has a locksmith put it in. It saved me some money. If you can, please look at my question under help to see if you know about it. I'm desperate.

Thanks.

[SecretAgentMan2k]

So, I had this happen to me about a year into owning my car. Two years later I had it replaced again under extended warranty. It's been fine for about 4 years. Today, it turns but stops at the run position. It won't go to start and crank. I tried multiple keys. I banged on it. Nothing. It seems like everyone has problems with it not turning at all. That's been my experience when it goes bad. Has anyone's cylinder just stop at the run position when it went bad? I just want to make sure it's not some other problem before buying a new cylinder.

Thanks.

[phillyfocus1315]

Same here, happened about a year in. AAA brought in a locksmith who said it happened all the time because of a faulty piece in the OEM ignition. He replaced it for $200 total with a non-OEM piece that has worked so much better.

[gilmerjd]

I have a problem with mine now. I was headed back to college after my spring break yesterday. I stopped to pick up a friend and turned my car off. About 20 minutes later I went to start my car and my key won't even turn. My steering wheel is locked up and the ignition switch won't move at all. It cost me $100 to get my car towed back to my house, I just paid $92 for a new lock cylinder, and it is going to cost around $90 to get Ford to reprogram my ignition to the new cylinder. All of this simply because Ford hasn't recalled this problem. We need to do something about this.

[gilmerjd]

Hey, did you ever take this problem to small claims? I am having this problem and it's going to cost me around $300 after everything is done. Any suggestions?