car starts with out key

[fballplayya82]

ok so the switch on my colum that releases the key hasnt worked since i bought the car. but now every once in a while where u put the key in doesnt line up and i cant get the key in but i can still start the car with out a key, n every once in a while the black piece where the key inserts just spins. whats goin on and is this an easy fix. thanx!

 

[Slo 5.Ohh]

i have a some what similiar problem also but i still need the key to turn my car on. but when the car is on i can pull the key right out and i can also spin the ignition around. was wondering about a fix on this also

 

[birel21y]

Bad Lock Cylinder. You can buy them from ford with a blank code, then take it to a locksmith, and he can configure it to your key. I need to do the same. To remove, take off the bottom cover on your steering column, then press the little pin on the bottom of the aluminum housing under the lock cylinder, and slide the cylinder out. Then after you figure out the new one, just pop it in. Hope this helps.

 

['94ChickStang]

I used to have an old Taurus that did the same thing and I can also take my key out while the car is running

 

[chaos254]

had the same problem... just get a new key cylinder from ford and it'll fix all your problems.

 

[WHITE94COBRA]

Ironically mine just started this too... Good timing on the thread.

 

[94v6GT]

so your NOT supposed to be able to take the key out while its running? i thought it was a cool "feature" that allowed me to warm up the car in the morning while keeping the doors locked

 

[WHITE94COBRA]

I like being able to pull the keys out while the car is running, I dont like it when you can turn the key on without the key... I have an ignition kill, but I still dont like that.

so your NOT supposed to be able to take the key out while its running? i thought it was a cool "feature" that allowed me to warm up the car in the morning while keeping the doors locked

 

[Chythar]

I can also pull the key out of the ignition on my '94 while it's running, but in my case it's not the ignition cylinder. It just happens to be the cut of the key. When I get a new key cut, I can't pull the key out while the car is running. After using the key for many months, the key will wear off an edge or two and then I can remove the key while running.

I can turn the car off without the key but I can't turn the car on without it.

 

[HISSIN50]

i have a some what similiar problem also but i still need the key to turn my car on. but when the car is on i can pull the key right out and i can also spin the ignition around. was wondering about a fix on this also

I have the same crap - I haven't ever spent the money to replace the cylinder.

The info about rekeying the locks is right-on and the way to go.

The ears on the locks are there to keep people from bending the key while cranking. There are 3 pins on the ear-ring that index it (it's indexed because of that lame chime when the key is on anything but the off position).

The ears are made of potmetal but you can get the black ear-ring off the cylinder (the ear-ring sits in a groove in the cylinder. You get it out of the groove [be careful] and then the ear-ring falls off). Prepare to get a new cylinder because the ear-ring might just crumble when you try to get them over the channel on the cylinder. The ears are made of really nasty potmetal (one step up from dogpoo) so you do have to be careful when messing with them.


I made new pins and epoxied the pins to the cylinder. It atleast keeps the ears indexed (for the chime).

If someone knows of decent but inexpensive lock cylnders, let me know.