Purpose behind the key release?

[IIGood]

A co-worker and I are trying to figure this out....what is the real purpose for the little key release tab above the ignition switch? Apparently the newer Mustangs don't have this; I don't recall my '99 V6 having it...my '03 GT has it and my '77 has one.

Many other cars don't...why the Mustang?

 

[blake44]

My only guess would be if someone jumped in your car and tried to snag your keys real quick and make off with them and make a copy or something along those lines.

 

[mustang50v8]

as far as i know its only on the mustangs with a manual trans have the release switch. dont ask me why though, i couldnt tell you

 

[BurningRubber]

The purpose?

To piss the owner off.

It's such a habit now I find myself reaching for it on other vehicles aside from my Mustang time to time...

 

[squeak93]

I don't even notice myself fliping the switch when I remove the keys. Just becomes second habbit. When I first got the car coming from an auto fox, I kept forgetting about it and started to get mad at it.

 

[IIGood]

My '99 was an automatic and my '03 is a manual...so I can understand that one.

My '77 is an automatic, yet it has the switch/button...its actually a button on the other side of the steering column from the switch that I press in to remove the key.

Just...weird. Don't understand what it's purpose is.

 

[red93gthb]

the foxes all have them underneath the wheel on the column. its a bitch that you have to use two hands

 

[DLFD911]

I think it's a safety thing. So you don't accidently lock the steering wheel while you're driving if you or someone else reaches over and shuts the key off. Most automatics have to be in park to remove the key.

 

[squeak93]

That is true.. Didn't think about autos being in park to get the key out.

 

[j_lutter31]

my 94 auto doesn't have it....however my 1992 F-150's (its an auto so it doesn't have it) key can be removed whenever, i can be driving...it doesn't matter, it'll slide right out, i don't have to turn it....the catch must have broken inside or somethin

 

[blkhorse]

how do I explain this, lol, the steering wheel lock is a pin that extends into a plate with notches cut into it. the key won't go into the lock postion unless this pin is in one of the notches. if the pin is in between one of the notches the key won't go to lock postion, the lever overrides this. that is why some times you need it and most of the time you don't. if you turn wheel while turning key it will work also

 

[JadeGT]

I think it's a safety thing. So you don't accidently lock the steering wheel while you're driving if you or someone else reaches over and shuts the key off. Most automatics have to be in park to remove the key.

I also think the same thing. I did this on a 76 Trans AM that wasn't in good shape while driving it home after purchasing it. The throttle stuck open and I turned the key to lock while going about 60MPH with the wheels not pointed exactly forward. I was unable to turn it back on. I broke the key off and bent the steering wheel into a U trying. I thought I was was dead but luckily I didn't hit anything really big.

 

[Mustang5L5]

It's so when your drunk buddy thinks it would be cool to take your keys out of the ignition and toss them off a bridge into the lake when you are doing 50MPH.

Trust me...that would suck.

 

[squeak93]

Thats when a drunk buddy would be quickly sobering up while flying off a bridge at 45 mph...


On a side note, we used to do that to each other on our crotch rockets at a stop light. Grab someones keys and chuck them into the road.. young and dumb, we all were once. The most fun was riding up on someones right side and slaping their kill switch and riding off. Also efffective at stop lights just when the light turns green. Makes it look like they killed it..