Removing key release button?

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
...or whatever it's called. Any reason not to remove that button under the collum that you have to push to turn the key to lock and remove it? It's just a peice of metal and spring that blocks the tumbler when not pressed. I am thinking about doing away with the nuesance.
 
they stopped putting them on in either 91/92, so i dont see any neg. effect of not having one, on my 90 i got so used to it, i forgot it was even there

The only reason it is there (my theory) is so if you accidently turn the ign. off you still have power brakes/steering/etc and so your car doesn't come to a sudden stop while in gear!
 
I've taken them out of every Mustang I've owned.

To remove it, take the column shrouding off and you will see the whole mechanism and how it works. There is a little tab that holds the cross bar from going up too high. Bend that slightly so the bar can go up higherand clear it. Then take a pair of pliers and break off the plastic button itself. You will probably have a spring come out as well. Lift the bar out. Bend the tab back. Done.

No side effects.
 
89MustangGX said:
I've taken them out of every Mustang I've owned.

To remove it, take the column shrouding off and you will see the whole mechanism and how it works. There is a little tab that holds the cross bar from going up too high. Bend that slightly so the bar can go up higherand clear it. Then take a pair of pliers and break off the plastic button itself. You will probably have a spring come out as well. Lift the bar out. Bend the tab back. Done.

No side effects.

Actually, I have the collum in my hands right now.

Mmmm, dmnit.... f'in pos plastic (grabs hammer) WHACK, wow that spring is long.... off it is. Thanks!!!
 
you barbarians. :D An alternative would have been to position an o-ring on the plastic button's shaft. It holds the button up (I did mine a couple years ago like that - I can go back to oem if desired).

It is a real PITA though, isnt it (along with the door chime)
 
I wasted mine a log time ago, 90. I haven't found any downside to taking it off. Believe me, you'll be sticking your finger in the hole where that button was for a few weeks until you get used to it not being there. Even though you hate it, you're still used to it being there.
 
My '90 and my '98 have that dumb button. On the '90 if you take the column cover off you can push the button up and slip a small rubber tube or somethign else in the hook looking end of it (you know what I mean if you open it up) and it's always "pushed in". I did it years ago.

Also while you have it open their is a wire that runs down the bottom of the steering column. It's all by it's self. half way down there is a square grey electrical connector. Unplug it and....... viola, no door chime...... yet if you leave the headlights on, it'll still chime. :nice: Just don't let it dangle around. Cap it with electrical tape as it is an always hot wire. I zip tied the two connecter ends together on top of each other.

On the '98, the button is right above the key. I haven't neutered it yet, but I'll employ the same trick of jamming a small piece of rubber in the button.