New Ignition Cylinder Help.

[fordblue03]

.... or drill the dang button and no need to tease the lock cylinder out.
The button normally needs the key turned to depress the button. If you drill the button out you dont need to worry about the keys position. or drilling through the tumblers.

[prncsnyc]

yikes. I read the ignition removal thread and this whole drilling thing has me terrified of causing more damage.

As far as drilling the button...what is the purpose of the button anyway? Will a new one be there when i replace the ignition with one from steve? What kind of drill would I need to buy?

boyfriend is getting a bit tired of driving me around lol. Might have to tow the thing.

[j20000]

yes, the new cylinder will have a button...the button keeps the cylinder from being able to be removed. If you can't turn the key to the "on" position, you can't see the button. IE. Someone can't just break in and yank out your ignition cylinder. You just need any old regular drill....just find the right size drill bit...my guess would be somewhere around 1/8"

[fordblue03]

The button is part of the ignition lock, so yes it will be there on the new one.
It is what holds the switch in.

[prncsnyc]

great. thanks to you both. I'm going to try and get out tomorrow to buy a drill. Just to make sure, I don't need to turn the key at the same time I drill, correct? Keep the key out of the ignition?

[j20000]

you will have to turn the ignition to the ON position (not starting it, but just so that your radio and all of your "check engine lights" and everything turns on) that will line that button up with the hole...otherwise the button won't be exposed for you to drill it.

[fordblue03]

The key releases the button. Assuming you can't turn the key, that's why you have to drill it out.
I did this to my car.
The button is allways exposed. When the key is turned the button is able to be depressed eliminating the need for drilling.
I drilled my button with the key out and the ignition off.

[j20000]

gotcha...sorry for the misinformation....I didn't have to drill mine out...I just beat the key until is turned.

[prncsnyc]

Originally Posted by j20000

you will have to turn the ignition to the ON position (not starting it, but just so that your radio and all of your "check engine lights" and everything turns on) that will line that button up with the hole...otherwise the button won't be exposed for you to drill it.

do you mean the accessories position? That is where my ignition i stuck. The key is *not* stuck. The biutton looks exposed to me but it won't depress which is why I figured I have to drill it.

anyway, my battery is dead so none of those things come on. I have tried charging it but it dies right after being disconected from the jumping battery.

Originally Posted by fordblue03

The key releases the button. Assuming you can't turn the key, that's why you have to drill it out.

I can turn my key to the start position, but my car won't start. The key won't turn to the off position.

Originally Posted by fordblue03

The button is allways exposed. When the key is turned the button is able to be depressed eliminating the need for drilling.
I drilled my button with the key out and the ignition off.

any idea why I can't depress the button even when turning the key to the on position?

sorry if I am repeating myself here, I just don't want to do something that is irreversible.

[fordblue03]

Then you should be able to depress the button to pull the ignition switch out...
BUT since you can't drill it.

[Scorpion]

Originally Posted by prncsnyc

any idea why I can't depress the button even when turning the key to the on position?

sorry if I am repeating myself here, I just don't want to do something that is irreversible.

You can't turn it back 'probably' because of small piece stuck inside.

As long as the driller does not go crazy, and drill straight up into the button hole (make sure the button is there...watch as you turn the key) there should be no problems. He should have to drill no more than 1/4 inch to destroy the button...but can go deeper (TAKE THE KEY OUT!). Once the button is gone, it should pull out easily enough...maybe with a few light taps to shake it loose.

If that does not work, then he will have to go in from the key end using a 10mm drill bit, following instructions from my link below.

THIS is what you're trying to do, but in part 6, you need to drill it out (which you probably already know).

INSTRUCTIONS

All you have to make sure of is that you don't drill too deep, otherwise you'll hit the back of the cylinder, nor that you hit the side of the cylinder. Other than that, you can drill the whole thing to pieces!

It's also easy to follow the directions with the new lock and make it fit your keys.

Good luck.

S.

[prncsnyc]

This is probably a stupid question, but how is everyone reaching the button in order to drill it out? My stearing wheel is in the way. I can't get the drill bit to touch the button.

PS. I have turned the stearing wheel but it still is not enough room.

Also, I bought a 7.2 volt Durabilt Cordless drill and tried to do the alternative method of drilling on the face of the ignition and I barely made a scratch. Do I need a more powerful drill or am I just a weakling?

[Scorpion]

The 'button' is underneath....so I don't see how the steering wheel is in the way....? You need to remove the plastic cowel from the steering column to access the button.

As for drilling thru the face....depends how tough the drill battery is. It might do the job. However, if you are having that much trouble, are you using the corrects drill bits? HSS (high speed steel) are what you need.

[mwillette2006]

Originally Posted by prncsnyc

This is probably a stupid question, but how is everyone reaching the button in order to drill it out? My stearing wheel is in the way. I can't get the drill bit to touch the button.

PS. I have turned the stearing wheel but it still is not enough room.

Also, I bought a 7.2 volt Durabilt Cordless drill and tried to do the alternative method of drilling on the face of the ignition and I barely made a scratch. Do I need a more powerful drill or am I just a weakling?

are you drilling the button???cause if you've drilled the lock and turned the wheel and its just not sliding out like it should, ie. just kinda stuck, but the button is pushed there is another way.

I had this problem two weeks ago. Two words...Slide Hammer. I know its not the most graceful way to do things but a bunch of little taps and 45 seconds later the thing slid right out.

[prncsnyc]

Originally Posted by Scorpion

The 'button' is underneath....so I don't see how the steering wheel is in the way....? You need to remove the plastic cowel from the steering column to access the button.

As for drilling thru the face....depends how tough the drill battery is. It might do the job. However, if you are having that much trouble, are you using the corrects drill bits? HSS (high speed steel) are what you need.

I did remove the plastic cowel from the steering column.

I thought the button was located where the key is pointing in the picture in post #129 above...? http://forums.focaljet.com/6674251-post129.html and all the pics in post 1.

I guess I am more confused than I thought bc the little thing that key is pointing to is what I have been trying to depress this whole time.

I was just using the bits that it came with.

[prncsnyc]

Originally Posted by mwillette2006

are you drilling the button???cause if you've drilled the lock and turned the wheel and its just not sliding out like it should, ie. just kinda stuck, but the button is pushed there is another way.

I had this problem two weeks ago. Two words...Slide Hammer. I know its not the most graceful way to do things but a bunch of little taps and 45 seconds later the thing slid right out.

I'm not drilling the button bc I can't access it. I have not drilled anything yet...tried to drill the face but the drill/bit is not powerful enough.

Can anyone confirm that this Slide Hammer is a good idea for my situation which does not involve the key not turning to the on position but the opposite of not turning to the off position?

[Scorpion]

Hm.....yes, it does show button on the side, but I certainly seem to remember it being underneath. Maybe my memory is not soo good...lol.

anyone else remember where it is exactly...or if there are different types?

If not, I might go take mine apart tomorrow for you, and get pics. Only a couple of screws really.

[prncsnyc]

Originally Posted by Scorpion

Hm.....yes, it does show button on the side, but I certainly seem to remember it being underneath. Maybe my memory is not soo good...lol.

anyone else remember where it is exactly...or if there are different types?

If not, I might go take mine apart tomorrow for you, and get pics. Only a couple of screws really.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[fordblue03]

As far as I know it's just one basic design, but the newer locks themselves are updated to fix the faulty design.

[mwillette2006]

Originally Posted by prncsnyc

I'm not drilling the button bc I can't access it. I have not drilled anything yet...tried to drill the face but the drill/bit is not powerful enough.

Can anyone confirm that this Slide Hammer is a good idea for my situation which does not involve the key not turning to the on position but the opposite of not turning to the off position?

as far as your drill bit, start small use a smaller bit to drill a pilot hole. gradually step it up to half inch to get the locking dog out. if your drill isn't powerfull enough. use a pnumatic drill. thats what i did. and if you can get the thing to start to move but not slide out easily, than you have pused the button, the cylinder is just jammed in. THe only thing you have to be very careful of is not damaging the aluminum housing around the cylinder.

[yuriyp]

My Focus01 ignition sudden locked up and the key wouldn’t turn.
I absolutely can't turn it.
I have to drill Ignition Cylinder out.
Probably I drill 3/8 hole a little bit deeper (about 1 ½ inches) but I still cannot turn the cylinder to the "on" position.
So, I still cannot push in the release pin for the cylinder slides right out.
Please help!
Can someone please try to explain me how you to engage that release pin?
Thanks.

[mwillette2006]

Originally Posted by yuriyp

My Focus01 ignition sudden locked up and the key wouldn’t turn.
I absolutely can't turn it.
I have to drill Ignition Cylinder out.
Probably I drill 3/8 hole a little bit deeper (about 1 ½ inches) but I still cannot turn the cylinder to the "on" position.
So, I still cannot push in the release pin for the cylinder slides right out.
Please help!
Can someone please try to explain me how you to engage that release pin?
Thanks.

drill to the same depth with a 1/2 inch and fish out the little bar...its about an 1/8" thick and .5" long and 1/4" wide. it will allow the tumblers to fall then you can use a screw driver to turn the cylinder. make sure your steering column isn't locked if so you'll have to turn it left while turning the key/screwdriver...good luck.