Key broke off in ignition, help!

[Joe 5.0]

Dont ask me how, because I WAS NOT forcing anything. My key broke off in the ignition. For the past couple weeks I have been just putting the head part into the key slot and starting it that way. I can see in the ignition where the rest of the key is, but I definitely cant get it out with a magnet or any tool.

How hard is it to pull the ignition out? Can I do it with a key basically in there?

 

[HISSIN50]

Yep. Turn the key to 'run' and use a skinny tool to push the lock's retaining pin in. Then the lock cylinder comes out.
IIRC, there's even a hole in the lower column-cover for you to insert a skinny screwdriver to push the pin. If not, just remove the shroud first.

Have a new lock ready to go. I'd want the new lock to be rekeyed for your old key (so you don't need multiple keys). Cost me 15 bucks or so last time I had it done. That part is optional.

Good luck.

 

[trav_19]

i need a new cylinder too where do you get them rekeyed?? haha i was gonna redo all my door and trunk cylinders so they all matched..haha

 

[JP95GT]

The same thing happened to me a couple of months ago. I just went down to the Ford Dealership and they gave me a new cylender. Then they cut the keys to fit the doors. The front half of the key works the ignition and the back half of the key works the doors so you won't have to rekey all the doors.

 

[trav_19]

..really.. so your saying each side of the key have different cuts..wow i never knew that

 

[HISSIN50]

I always thought that the different cuts (bumps) in the key controlled different locks. Like the first 5 or 6 cuts control one lock and another 5 or 6 cuts control another function. Then there's another couple of cuts allocated for something else......

 

[trav_19]

yea i agree with hissin...because if each side had indepent cuts for doors and the other side for ignition...you would have to put the key in one way only for it to start and the other way to open doors...i think

 

[HISSIN50]

yea i agree with hissin...because if each side had indepent cuts for doors and the other side for ignition...you would have to put the key in one way only for it to start and the other way to open doors...i think

That was my thought too.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

*waits for frozen pizza to cook*... Oh hehe, What JP95GT means is that the front of the key (like the tip) is for the ignition. So if you got a key cut for ignition only then you would only have like 3 bumps on the key on the tip and if you got a key cut for the doors then the middle to rear of the key would be cut only and the tip would have no cuts on it. I know because I had this done on my old stang... I had 3 different keys for the car.... Dont ask.... Let me see if i can find my old keys.

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

Ok got it...

top is both middle is ignition bottom is door

 

[HISSIN50]

GTA - thank you. In re-reading JP's previous post, I can see how that can be it (I just interpreted what he said incorrectly - he said 'side' where I thought 'end').

I think proper nomenclature for keys involves the term 'bow' and that would have been a nice reference point if I was sure what the bow is (I've heard a locksmith reference the bow but don't ask me).

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

GTA - thank you. In re-reading JP's previous post, I can see how that can be it (I just interpreted what he said incorrectly - he said 'side' where I thought 'end').

I think proper nomenclature for keys involves the term 'bow' and that would have been a nice reference point if I was sure what the bow is (I've heard a locksmith reference the bow but don't ask me).

No fair your using FCAT words.... now I am lost... nomenclature??? *gets out dictionary...* this may take a while...