New Ignition Cylinder Help.

[SilverZX3Bullet]

Thanks very much for the how-to... I swapped mine out today w/out a hitch. I used a rubber mallet to free it up. I took my siezed cylinder apart making note of the the tumbler numbers and their orientation, which made setting the tumblers in the new cylinder a breeze.

[JasonCSBB]

I replaced mine and also keyed the cylinder myself. Great tips from this forum!

Here are tips for keying it, it's easy! Took less time than driving to a locksmith.

- Spread a thick white towel on a well-lit work surface. If you drop any of the fiddly little bits, you can find it easily.

- Go through the whole instructions. Do it from start to finish, minus the springs and pins and the final locking together, to familiarize yourself with how it all fits together.

- When doing the pin sequence, start with the end nearest the tip of the key.

- I used a piston ring spreader to put on the final circlip. That sucker was pretty stiff.

- Grease the inside of the outer cylinder.

Cheers!

[j20000]

awsome...I'm glad I could help you guys out. And JasonCSBB..those are good tips to add to the "how-to" for the guys that are setting the tumblers themselves.

[Jason_C_SBB]

Here's another tip.

Removing the plastic cowling under the steering wheel requires that the key is out of the ignition. Else the cowling will catch on the key. So remove the cowling before inserting the key.

However, if the key is in the cylinder already, and you're afraid that removing it will make the cylinder jam up again, go ahead and remove the screws that hold the lower cowling, and in the space that forms push the catch in the hole with a long thin object to release the cylinder. Use a flashlight so you can see the hole.

[NowIDriveAScion]

So once I get it out, just take it to the dealership and ask for a new one? Are there better ways to go than the dealership?

BTW thanks for the how to came in very handy.

[j20000]

yes...the dealership is the way to go, they can get you a new one for about $90 or so. you can have them set the new one for you, or try to do it yourself..either way..the cylinder itself is SUPER easy to relpace. Good luck.

[SpecterXP]

So, my lock cylinder locked up on me recently and I had one HELL of a time getting this damn thing out. I wacked it with a hammer, broke 3 drill bits and FINALLY yanked it out with a pair of pliers. I'm now riding around without an igniton cylinder and this modification done!

[gooch84]

So I don't know if this will work on everybody's "Problem" but i took a can of small electronics cleaner and sprayed it inside of the cylinder and worked the key in and out wiping the key every two or three times. I did this for about 3 min. and it became unstuck. i sprayed just a little more to make sure most of the gunk was out and i haven't had a problem for about a week.

now i don't know how long it is going to last i need to pick up some dry lube and put a little inside to make sure it dosen't freeze up permanently but like i said so far it has worked.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Just a quick note here, For anyone that does not want to tackle coding their own cylinder check the sticky at the top of the "Team tech" section.

I can sell, build and ship you a coded cylinder for less than most dealers charge for just the cylinder.

cylinder $44.92
coding $20.00
key blank $1.65
UPS ground $7.50

total $74.07

Retail on the cylinder is $90.76 uncoded.

Just trying to help

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by JasonCSBB

I replaced mine and also keyed the cylinder myself. Great tips from this forum!

Here are tips for keying it, it's easy! Took less time than driving to a locksmith.

- Spread a thick white towel on a well-lit work surface. If you drop any of the fiddly little bits, you can find it easily.

- Go through the whole instructions. Do it from start to finish, minus the springs and pins and the final locking together, to familiarize yourself with how it all fits together.

- When doing the pin sequence, start with the end nearest the tip of the key.

- I used a piston ring spreader to put on the final circlip. That sucker was pretty stiff.

- Grease the inside of the outer cylinder.

Cheers!

If you do build your own cylinder be sure to use plenty of the grease supplied with the new cylinder when you build the new one.

The main reason these fail is due to a lack of lubrication.

[SVT529]

Ford techs that fix this problem said they repeatedly hit the end of the key with a rubber mallet while attempting to turn the key until it turns.

I have the Ford service instructions and diagrams if anyone wants me to email (or can upload to thread).

[MisterAlex]

Okay, so before I jack something up seriously, to be clear on the "hit it with the palm of your hand method"... am I hitting it in a direction that would shove it into the slot or in a direction as if the blow is turning the key?

Edit:

Originally Posted by SVT529

Ford techs that fix this problem said they repeatedly hit the end of the key with a rubber mallet while attempting to turn the key until it turns.

I have the Ford service instructions and diagrams if anyone wants me to email (or can upload to thread).

I'd like this! MisterAlex at gmail dot com... might as well post here since more will likely want a copy.

[j20000]

just hit it IN, like you were inserting the key into the ignition. It should shake it loose enough to get the ignition turned on, so that you can get the ignition cylinder out.

[MisterAlex]

Well, no luck with hitting it in... I banged on that thing for quite a while (and even cracked the little loop part) and no dice. Guess I'll have to find a drill and get that piece of crap out the hard way.

[quinquevalent]

Okay, someone's probably touched on this subject already but I'm lazy and don't want to go through reading everything right now. Does the whole PATS key even matter? Can you get the new ignition re-keyed to just a normal key and will it work just fine? My understanding is that the PATS key is an anti-theft device, correct? What if I just don't care and want to save myself a ton of money? Let me know if you can help. (Not that it matters on this time around because I just dropped my 04 focus off at the dealer and will probably end up paying close to $400. I've heard this is a reaccuring problem and may have to get it fixed again, and maybe again, and then maybe again after that.) Thanks for any help in advance.

[JonFocus03]

Thank got I found this... I was about to toss my sh*t into the grand canyon I was getting so pi$$ed off... I knew it had something to do with that lil hole... If I take that out will it disengage that steering lock as well??

Jon

[j20000]

Originally Posted by quinquevalent

Okay, someone's probably touched on this subject already but I'm lazy and don't want to go through reading everything right now. Does the whole PATS key even matter? Can you get the new ignition re-keyed to just a normal key and will it work just fine? My understanding is that the PATS key is an anti-theft device, correct? What if I just don't care and want to save myself a ton of money? Let me know if you can help. (Not that it matters on this time around because I just dropped my 04 focus off at the dealer and will probably end up paying close to $400. I've heard this is a reaccuring problem and may have to get it fixed again, and maybe again, and then maybe again after that.) Thanks for any help in advance.

The PATS system isnt part of the cylinder. The PATS sensor is just a little ring that sits at the base of where the ignition cylinder slides into. You cant disable the PATS system, its programed into your ECU.

[j20000]

Originally Posted by JonFocus03

Thank got I found this... I was about to toss my sh*t into the grand canyon I was getting so pi$$ed off... I knew it had something to do with that lil hole... If I take that out will it disengage that steering lock as well??

Jon

You have to be able to turn the ignition to the "ON" position to line the little detent pin up with that hole to get the cylinder out anyway...which will unlock the steering column.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by j20000

The PATS system isnt part of the cylinder. The PATS sensor is just a little ring that sits at the base of where the ignition cylinder slides into. You cant disable the PATS system, its programed into your ECU.

You can have the PATS disabled with a tune but it can cause issues down the road if you have a PCM issue or get rid of your tuner.

[sjwsti]

I just wanted to post a big Thank You! to Steve ( FORDSVTPARTS ) at Tousley Ford. To make a long story short I couldnt get my key in the ignition of my 2000 ZX3, so it meant drilling it out. Once I completed that I contacted several local dealers for the cost of a replacement cylinder along with building it to fit my key. All were nearly $200. One dealer insisted that I would need to buy a new PATS key or it would not work. After a quick internet search I contacted Tousley Ford and spoke to Steve. I ordered the part Monday and it was on my doorstep today. Within 5 minutes I had my car started. All for less than $80. Thanks again.

- Shawn

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by sjwsti

I just wanted to post a big Thank You! to Steve ( FORDSVTPARTS ) at Tousley Ford. To make a long story short I couldnt get my key in the ignition of my 2000 ZX3, so it meant drilling it out. Once I completed that I contacted several local dealers for the cost of a replacement cylinder along with building it to fit my key. All were nearly $200. One dealer insisted that I would need to buy a new PATS key or it would not work. After a quick internet search I contacted Tousley Ford and spoke to Steve. I ordered the part Monday and it was on my doorstep today. Within 5 minutes I had my car started. All for less than $80. Thanks again.

- Shawn

Glad to hear it went well for you, We have done quite a few ignition cylinders for forum members.

It's nice to be in a position to help people. Thanks for the props!

[sophyzhu]

I want to thank j2000 and Steve too...
I encountered the ignition cylinder problem last Sunday when I went to shopping at Walmart. The key won't turn at all. A friend gave me a ride home and I searched web. Monday morning, I used the hit-with-palm method to get the car back home and then called Steve. Today (Wednesday) I got the new cylinder. By following the instruction here it was installed successfully

Many thanks to both of you!

Originally Posted by FORDSVTPARTS

Glad to hear it went well for you, We have done quite a few ignition cylinders for forum members.

It's nice to be in a position to help people. Thanks for the props!

[HotFocusOn18s]

how do you "drill it out" what exactly does that mean and how is it done for example.

[j20000]

glad to hear that I could help someone else out. Me and you make a good team Steve.

Drilling it out is just that...drilling the center of the ignition cylinder out so that you can break the "lock" free and turn it so that you can get the cylinder out.

[FORDSVTPARTS]

Originally Posted by HotFocusOn18s

how do you "drill it out" what exactly does that mean and how is it done for example.

With any luck you won't have to, You may get it working again (at least temporarily) with some lock cylinder grease and a little luck.

If you are not totally comfortable with the thought of drilling out the cylinder then you probably don't want to try it yourself. If you don't do it right it could get a LOT more expensive.