1997, 4.0,2WD, auto trans, 170,000 miles, Wheel is locked.
My ignition key was a little difficult to turn, in that I had to wiggle the wheel a little, the key would turn with a few clicking sounds. But today the key refuses to turn except on a few occasions when the key would turn with more intense clicking. Now, I have wiggled the wheel forcefully, turned it hard to the right and held it hard to the right while turning the key with no success. I am thinking of replacing the ignition lock cylinder. Many experts on U tube proclaim that it is simple, ("rotate the key to on or run and depress the pin...with the key if you have it... and pull the cylinder out"). Good luck with that...my key will not turn!

I have been been U tubing with wannabe video stars, reading inconclusive prose, pounding, wiggling ad nauseum for hours..I would surely be thankful for advice!
Thanks, Bill C

 

Welcome to the forum

You are going to have to pull the steering wheel off

It reads like the actuator rod gear is stripped or broken

You need to disable the airbag so pull off battery cable at least 15 min BEFORE starting the work
Airbags store a charge so they can deploy if battery/power is disconnected in an accident/rollover


I doubt the key cylinder is the issue, but you will be able to get it out, rotate it, once steering wheel is off

On the back of key cylinder is a gear, that gear slides the actuator rod to pull out the steering lock pin and to slide the ignition switch(above brake pedal) into its 4 positions
The "clicking" you heard was most likely the gears not meshing as they should, smoothly

I am guessing at this point, so look at videos on removing your steering wheel you will be able to see more once its off

 

RonD,


Thanks for your reply. I was out in the Oregon mountains hiking and picking mushrooms and did not get back to you as
promptly as I would have liked.


When I got back home this evening I made another attempt to dislodge the ignition lock cylinder. I wiggled the black finger grip in and out with one hand and the other hand turned the key...low and behold, the ignition lock cylinder came right out. There was a small piece of plastic in the housing that was causing the grief. In addition, the tumblers in the ignition lock cylinder were in disarray. I put another in and all is well.


I am quite relieved that I did not have to pull the wheel!


Thanks again
BillC

 

Good work

Rarely is it that simple, lol

Thanks for the followup and the FIX