Please post if your ignition has locked! - Page 24 - Focaljet

**hoagie666** · 04-03-2008, 01:47 AM

Mine locked almost a year ago. I think I paid maybe $135 for the cylinder and to have it set for my key. Then about 3 hours of aggravation drilling the old one out. My car is a 2000, and it was probably around 100,000 miles.

**XsyntaX** · 04-21-2008, 12:33 AM

Yeah mine locked, so I ordered a Honda S2000 push button start and installed it where my cigarette lighter used to be. I had to pull the whole cylinder out of the column but it was worth it. Now I have a seperate switch for my igintion1 and one for my accessories. I had to install a good alarm system and an alternate fuel cut-off switch to ensure no one could run off with my car. I love it and would never go back.

**XsyntaX** · 04-21-2008, 12:35 AM

Yeah mine locked, so I ordered a Honda S2000 push button start and installed it where my cigarette lighter used to be. I had to pull the whole cylinder out of the column but it was worth it. Now I have a seperate switch for my igintion1 and one for my accessories. I had to install a good alarm system and an alternate fuel cut-off switch to ensure no one could run off with my car. I love it and would never go back.

**JoeShmo** · 05-16-2008, 09:07 PM

2004 Focus, wife said it warned her once. Then it locked up at work. I somehow guessed the temp remedy and wacked the key with an ice scraper and got it home. Read what it was and bought a new cylinder $123.00 and rebuilt it to her key. I found a good posting with photos on the removal on this forum: http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech...nder-help.html

Not a difficult task. About 20 minutes out and back in not including the resetting the wafers. The real pain is resetting the wafers to fit your key. One of those projects that takes an hour the first time and 10 minutes the second. If you really got frustrated with it you could set one wafer or none and not worry about.

FYI The local Ford stealership wanted $140 for the part and 3 hours labor. It took a rookie with basic mechanical skills 1 hour.

**egoreise** · 05-23-2008, 05:16 PM

Add me to this list! This just happened to me today on my 2004 Focus. Tapping the key with the handle of a screwdriver works, but I have to do it every single time I want to start the car, and I'm worried my key will get stuck in there eventually. Just researching my best option for repair.

**John Howard** · 05-24-2008, 02:19 PM

Labor Day 2006.

I was dropping off my used oil for recycling in Mesa, Arizona. Upon returning to our 2003 Focus 2.0 SPI (automatic transmission), the ignition key would not turn.

I called a friend with a towing service and he dragged our fine piece of Ford mechanical and body parts to Village Auto Electric . . . less than 1/2 block from where I was disabled.

NOTE: ALWAYS PART IN THE SHADE! NEVER PART IN THE SUN! ARIZONA IS HOT AS HELL THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER AND SOMETIMES INTO NOVEMBER!

The part was retail from Berge Ford and the repair was completed quickly.

NOTE: ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE IGNITION KEY ASSEMBLY!

**Fred Foci** · 05-29-2008, 11:58 AM

You can fix this yourself for $60. Do some searching online for the lowest price for a replacement cylinder. It may take a couple of hours of labor but you'll save hundreds of dollars.

**Bitofurtime** · 06-17-2008, 02:02 PM

Thank you so much, your post really helped me out! My Focus did this twice to me and I really didn't want to pay to get it fixed again. I took your advice and banged on the key pretty hard, turned it and it worked. I also agree and believe that Ford company should be held responsible for this unfortunate cause.

**cassio26** · 06-24-2008, 12:04 PM

Add me to the list. Mine locked up and wouldn't turn at all.

I called AAA and they helped me find a locksmith and gave me $$$ towards the fix. When the locksmith got to the parking lot I was in he told me he had 6 ford focus replacement cylinders in his truck because he gets calls for it all the time. It took him about 20 minutes to fix it.

He didn't drill it because he had some tool that broke the front face off and allowed him to access that troublesome bar. If I had known about the tool I would probably have done it myself.

**lm1d** · 06-24-2008, 04:29 PM

I'm surprised everyone has this problem still. I've replace 8 locksets on my Focus since 2000. The last time, the dealer had an updated module that looked completely different and was without that lock assembly that causes the issue. It's been 2 years without a failure now. I wonder why more of the new types are being installed?

**00focusfixer** · 07-08-2008, 07:39 AM

My ignition locked too...BUT I have been able to keep it going for over a year now.It may sound barbaric, but instead of replacing the ignition set, I prefer to tap the key and this ALWAYS works.First, be sure to insert the key with "#1" facing upwards.Next, I tap or bump the key with the heel of my palm. It should look like you are trying to drive the key further into the ignition and perhaps out the other side.This will get you by until you can get a new one, or if you are like me, it will work for more than a year.The problem, however, will only get worse so I suppose I need to take care of it soon....

**SE SPORTNY** · 07-08-2008, 05:13 PM

145,000 miles on the ticker and mine locked out. Lucky for me it was in my driveway and I have the CTS as a backup. Purchased a new lock cylinder off of e-bay from $75 with lock set to my original key. swapped it out and it's been good ever since.

**98LowRanger** · 07-09-2008, 01:55 PM

Well, mine has NOT caused me any problems yet (knock on wood), but I was wondering if there was anything I can do now to prevent it from happening in the future. Should I buy a new lock cylinder from Tousley Ford? I have 2 jobs and a 2 1/2 year old son so I'm pretty busy and don't have time to be stranded somewhere. Reading all your posts makes me very nervous that mine will go any day now (03 ZX3 with 55K miles).

**joez77** · 07-10-2008, 01:01 AM

i've had this problem too it locked up and needed a new ignition, had it towed,i even had the warranty, but the told me that isnt covered in my warranty with lobor it costed me $400

**iunk31** · 07-15-2008, 12:51 AM

My ignition just locked up on me today. Its bad! Going to have to take a drill to it in the morning. Pretty upset it is not on recall status. Dealer wanted over $800 for parts and labor. HA dont think so. I think it is a scam for them to make money! Oh well hopefully I can get this thing fixed. The car is in great shape other than that. Its a shame!

Iunk31

**GE-S2** · 07-15-2008, 07:58 PM

Just lock up today at home...This is my second time. Will drill again this weekend. Now i dont know should i buy cylinder key from Ford again or check to Locksmith? Any suggestion??? I just dont wanna get stuck again with the same problem...

**GE-S2** · 07-16-2008, 08:53 PM

I just bought new cylinder key from locksmith. Looks better quality. Its a Strattec #707592. Any body know how much is it cosy to make my key work for the new cylinder key? The guy ask me $65 for it. I think is to much..so i'll look somewhere else..

**kyle** · 08-03-2008, 11:34 PM

this just happened to someone i know. she text messaged me asking if i knew anything about it. i dont honestly but i knew FJ would.

what do i tell her? just take it to ford. pay for it? can she be paid back or what? apparently she is literally less than a month out of warrenty. but i would figure this falls into recall status. any quick help would be good. she doesnt know what to do on a sunday afternoon ...

**GapBoyPCS** · 08-04-2008, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyle

this just happened to someone i know. she text messaged me asking if i knew anything about it. i dont honestly but i knew FJ would.

what do i tell her? just take it to ford. pay for it? can she be paid back or what? apparently she is literally less than a month out of warrenty. but i would figure this falls into recall status. any quick help would be good. she doesnt know what to do on a sunday afternoon ...

I'd first check to see what warranty she has. To the best of my recollection, this issue is only covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty, which is 3 years/36,000 miles. If it's past bumper-to-bumper and she had extended warranty, then I'm not sure what can be done afterwards. What model year does she own?

The only real option is to have her go back to the dealer and see if they can cover this under "goodwill". She would (usually) pay part of the repair while the dealership and/or Ford will cover the balance. If she has a good rapport with the dealership, then that may reduce the cost of the repair.

If that doesn't pan out, then it's up to her. By taking it back to the dealership, there's a record of the repair. IF there is ever a recall or extended warranty coverage, Ford will look to see if the repair was done by Ford. Only then will reimbursment may happen. If it was taken elsewhere, it will probably be cheaper. However, Ford won't cover it.

**prncsnyc** · 08-09-2008, 02:43 PM

*Cross posted from this thread*

**starlingseven** · 08-13-2008, 01:15 PM

I have a 2003 Focus and it has had the ignition replaced once in the first year I had it, and it is now in the shop because it locked up again at 72000. Based on other folks' experience I guess over 55,000 on one ignition assembly is pretty awesome for this car, eh?

But anyhow, there's a trick if you're ignition locks up, and it saved me a tow this time around. WHen the key is in the ignition, hit it square on and pretty hard too with a hard object. It will cause the tumblers/pins that are not moving around in there to move. Then take it in ASAP to get fixed.

**jonfocus01** · 09-02-2008, 02:10 PM

My 2001 locked up on Friday just as I was to head out of town. At least I was in my Driveway.

**Focuschickb2** · 09-09-2008, 05:33 PM

Whoop Whoop... Add me AND my husband to the list... both of ours locked within 3 months of each other... haven't fixed it... leave the key in all the time and just use the key pad to lock it.... what a pain!!!!!!

**smn1428** · 09-17-2008, 08:39 AM

Add me to the list. I can still turn my key and start my Focus, the key won't come out of the ignition.

**bwparker1** · 09-18-2008, 06:21 PM

Same thing just happened to my wife about 2 hours ago in downtown Hartford. I get a phone call that the steering wheel is locked and that they key won't turn. Googled Ford Focus Ignition Lock and got all of this information.

I was able to get the key to work by applying some graphite into the lock Cylinder and then using the method that describes inserting the key with the number #1 face up, and then used the end of a screw driver to tap the key with a light to medium force, on the 2nd or third tap, in she went. Thanks for the help and avoiding having to get a tow with AAA!

BWP

04-03-2008, 01:47 AM	#576
hoagie666 Rookie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: nepa Posts: 41	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Mine locked almost a year ago. I think I paid maybe $135 for the cylinder and to have it set for my key. Then about 3 hours of aggravation drilling the old one out. My car is a 2000, and it was probably around 100,000 miles.

04-21-2008, 12:33 AM	#577
XsyntaX Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Renton, WA Posts: 38	Re: !Please post if your ignhtion has locked! Yeah mine locked, so I ordered a Honda S2000 push button start and installed it where my cigarette lighter used to be. I had to pull the whole cylinder out of the column but it was worth it. Now I have a seperate switch for my igintion1 and one for my accessories. I had to install a good alarm system and an alternate fuel cut-off switch to ensure no one could run off with my car. I love it and would never go back.

04-21-2008, 12:35 AM	#578
XsyntaX Rookie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Renton, WA Posts: 38	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Yeah mine locked, so I ordered a Honda S2000 push button start and installed it where my cigarette lighter used to be. I had to pull the whole cylinder out of the column but it was worth it. Now I have a seperate switch for my igintion1 and one for my accessories. I had to install a good alarm system and an alternate fuel cut-off switch to ensure no one could run off with my car. I love it and would never go back.

05-16-2008, 09:07 PM	#579
JoeShmo Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! 2004 Focus, wife said it warned her once. Then it locked up at work. I somehow guessed the temp remedy and wacked the key with an ice scraper and got it home. Read what it was and bought a new cylinder $123.00 and rebuilt it to her key. I found a good posting with photos on the removal on this forum: http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech...nder-help.html Not a difficult task. About 20 minutes out and back in not including the resetting the wafers. The real pain is resetting the wafers to fit your key. One of those projects that takes an hour the first time and 10 minutes the second. If you really got frustrated with it you could set one wafer or none and not worry about. FYI The local Ford stealership wanted $140 for the part and 3 hours labor. It took a rookie with basic mechanical skills 1 hour.

05-23-2008, 05:16 PM	#580
egoreise Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Add me to this list! This just happened to me today on my 2004 Focus. Tapping the key with the handle of a screwdriver works, but I have to do it every single time I want to start the car, and I'm worried my key will get stuck in there eventually. Just researching my best option for repair.

05-24-2008, 02:19 PM	#581
John Howard Rookie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Labor Day 2006. I was dropping off my used oil for recycling in Mesa, Arizona. Upon returning to our 2003 Focus 2.0 SPI (automatic transmission), the ignition key would not turn. I called a friend with a towing service and he dragged our fine piece of Ford mechanical and body parts to Village Auto Electric . . . less than 1/2 block from where I was disabled. NOTE: ALWAYS PART IN THE SHADE! NEVER PART IN THE SUN! ARIZONA IS HOT AS HELL THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER AND SOMETIMES INTO NOVEMBER! The part was retail from Berge Ford and the repair was completed quickly. NOTE: ALWAYS CARRY A SPARE IGNITION KEY ASSEMBLY! Last edited by GapBoyPCS : 05-25-2008 at 02:15 AM. Reason: Sorry, we do not allow the promotion of companies and their services and/or products that are not sponsors of FocalJet and compete directly with FocalJet sponsors.

05-29-2008, 11:58 AM	#582
Fred Foci Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! You can fix this yourself for $60. Do some searching online for the lowest price for a replacement cylinder. It may take a couple of hours of labor but you'll save hundreds of dollars.

06-17-2008, 02:02 PM	#583
Bitofurtime Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Thank you so much, your post really helped me out! My Focus did this twice to me and I really didn't want to pay to get it fixed again. I took your advice and banged on the key pretty hard, turned it and it worked. I also agree and believe that Ford company should be held responsible for this unfortunate cause.

06-24-2008, 12:04 PM	#584
cassio26 Rookie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Enfield, CT Posts: 20	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Add me to the list. Mine locked up and wouldn't turn at all. I called AAA and they helped me find a locksmith and gave me $$$ towards the fix. When the locksmith got to the parking lot I was in he told me he had 6 ford focus replacement cylinders in his truck because he gets calls for it all the time. It took him about 20 minutes to fix it. He didn't drill it because he had some tool that broke the front face off and allowed him to access that troublesome bar. If I had known about the tool I would probably have done it myself. __________________ I have only two things in life: my balls and my word; and I'm not breaking either of them for anybody. 2004 SVT ZX5 - CD Silver #909 of 1079

06-24-2008, 04:29 PM	#585
lm1d TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Cedar Hill, TX, USA Posts: 139	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! I'm surprised everyone has this problem still. I've replace 8 locksets on my Focus since 2000. The last time, the dealer had an updated module that looked completely different and was without that lock assembly that causes the issue. It's been 2 years without a failure now. I wonder why more of the new types are being installed?

07-08-2008, 07:39 AM	#586
00focusfixer Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! My ignition locked too...BUT I have been able to keep it going for over a year now.It may sound barbaric, but instead of replacing the ignition set, I prefer to tap the key and this ALWAYS works.First, be sure to insert the key with "#1" facing upwards.Next, I tap or bump the key with the heel of my palm. It should look like you are trying to drive the key further into the ignition and perhaps out the other side.This will get you by until you can get a new one, or if you are like me, it will work for more than a year.The problem, however, will only get worse so I suppose I need to take care of it soon....

07-08-2008, 05:13 PM	#587
SE SPORTNY Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: New Port Richey, FL Posts: 4,486	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! 145,000 miles on the ticker and mine locked out. Lucky for me it was in my driveway and I have the CTS as a backup. Purchased a new lock cylinder off of e-bay from $75 with lock set to my original key. swapped it out and it's been good ever since. __________________ *Johnny Tapia is my hero!*

07-10-2008, 01:01 AM	#589
joez77 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! i've had this problem too it locked up and needed a new ignition, had it towed,i even had the warranty, but the told me that isnt covered in my warranty with lobor it costed me $400

07-15-2008, 12:51 AM	#590
iunk31 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! My ignition just locked up on me today. Its bad! Going to have to take a drill to it in the morning. Pretty upset it is not on recall status. Dealer wanted over $800 for parts and labor. HA dont think so. I think it is a scam for them to make money! Oh well hopefully I can get this thing fixed. The car is in great shape other than that. Its a shame! Iunk31

07-15-2008, 07:58 PM	#591
GE-S2 TEAM Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Rockville, Maryland Posts: 238	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Just lock up today at home...This is my second time. Will drill again this weekend. Now i dont know should i buy cylinder key from Ford again or check to Locksmith? Any suggestion??? I just dont wanna get stuck again with the same problem... __________________ Exterior: Euro 2002 grill, debagde, Interior: Katzin leather seat ICE: Pioneer AVIC N1 DVD Navigation system, Engine: REMUS muffler, BOMZ CAI, MSDsparkplug and coil, Autolite Double platinum plugs.Suspension: Eibach sportsline and Koni Yellowr, energy suspension endlink.

07-16-2008, 08:53 PM	#592
GE-S2 TEAM Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Rockville, Maryland Posts: 238	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! I just bought new cylinder key from locksmith. Looks better quality. Its a Strattec #707592. Any body know how much is it cosy to make my key work for the new cylinder key? The guy ask me $65 for it. I think is to much..so i'll look somewhere else.. __________________ Exterior: Euro 2002 grill, debagde, Interior: Katzin leather seat ICE: Pioneer AVIC N1 DVD Navigation system, Engine: REMUS muffler, BOMZ CAI, MSDsparkplug and coil, Autolite Double platinum plugs.Suspension: Eibach sportsline and Koni Yellowr, energy suspension endlink.

08-03-2008, 11:34 PM	#593
kyle TEAM Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 780	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! this just happened to someone i know. she text messaged me asking if i knew anything about it. i dont honestly but i knew FJ would. what do i tell her? just take it to ford. pay for it? can she be paid back or what? apparently she is literally less than a month out of warrenty. but i would figure this falls into recall status. any quick help would be good. she doesnt know what to do on a sunday afternoon ...

08-09-2008, 02:43 PM	#595
prncsnyc Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Cross posted from this thread Last edited by GapBoyPCS : 08-09-2008 at 06:36 PM.

08-13-2008, 01:15 PM	#596
starlingseven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! I have a 2003 Focus and it has had the ignition replaced once in the first year I had it, and it is now in the shop because it locked up again at 72000. Based on other folks' experience I guess over 55,000 on one ignition assembly is pretty awesome for this car, eh? But anyhow, there's a trick if you're ignition locks up, and it saved me a tow this time around. WHen the key is in the ignition, hit it square on and pretty hard too with a hard object. It will cause the tumblers/pins that are not moving around in there to move. Then take it in ASAP to get fixed.

09-02-2008, 02:10 PM	#597
jonfocus01 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! My 2001 locked up on Friday just as I was to head out of town. At least I was in my Driveway.

09-09-2008, 05:33 PM	#598
Focuschickb2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Whoop Whoop... Add me AND my husband to the list... both of ours locked within 3 months of each other... haven't fixed it... leave the key in all the time and just use the key pad to lock it.... what a pain!!!!!! __________________ FocusChickB2

09-17-2008, 08:39 AM	#599
smn1428 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Add me to the list. I can still turn my key and start my Focus, the key won't come out of the ignition.

09-18-2008, 06:21 PM	#600
bwparker1 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1	Re: Please post if your ignition has locked! Same thing just happened to my wife about 2 hours ago in downtown Hartford. I get a phone call that the steering wheel is locked and that they key won't turn. Googled Ford Focus Ignition Lock and got all of this information. I was able to get the key to work by applying some graphite into the lock Cylinder and then using the method that describes inserting the key with the number #1 face up, and then used the end of a screw driver to tap the key with a light to medium force, on the 2nd or third tap, in she went. Thanks for the help and avoiding having to get a tow with AAA! BWP