sticking ignition cylinder

[eaglescout94]

I've been messing with a 2000 ranger that the plan is to sell once the title shows up. Originally had the issue of getting new keys programmed to start the truck. I got that done, kinda, but have a related-ish issue. I couldn't get one of the keys to program I believe because I couldn't get the ignition cylinder to turn in a timely manner. I've got the cylinder out of the truck to try cleaning/ lubricating to see if that may fix my issues. It has not. it seems like if I stick any of the keys in until they stop, I cannot turn the key but if I either stop just before the key stops or slightly pull the key back from bottomed out the cylinder turns like it should. Does anyone know if there is a way to dissemble the cylinder or something I should be looking at to fix it, short of a new cylinder preferably?

 

[Curious Hound]

Sounds like the shoulder us worn, allowing the keys to be inserted too far. Not sure of a good fix for that except new cylinder and keus. Or braze a tiny bit of material onto the shoukders of the keys and carefully file it down until its perfect.

 

[eaglescout94]

the shoulder of the cylinder where the key goes? Sounds like it, I doubt theres anything else that could wear out that would allow the key to over insert. Ive got what might be the original key and the 2 new ones I had cut and they all act the same. Brazing or soldering on them and refitting would be the more permeant option with keeping my current cylinder

 

[Curious Hound]

the shoulder of the cylinder where the key goes? Sounds like it, I doubt theres anything else that could wear out that would allow the key to over insert. Ive got what might be the original key and the 2 new ones I had cut and they all act the same. Brazing or soldering on them and refitting would be the more permeant option with keeping my current cylinder

The more I think about that idea, the more I wonder if heat would be bad for a PATS key

 

[eaglescout94]

the chip is basically a little cylinder that can be removed from the key right? is it possible to remove without destroying the key in order to make the shank fit then reinstall the chip?

 

[Brain75]

yes, in the tech library there is a post/guide by a guy who removed the chip (wire wheel'd the plastic down carefully) and then duct taped it to another (non-PATS, plain ole late 1990's key).

Interestingly enough ilco makes a key with a little cubby you can pop open and put the transponder down in - like they anticipated this problem...

I know because the 2 new keys I added to my mom's '07 are like yours, they slip in just 1mm too far and are a total PITA to use.... did some research myself.

 

[Brain75]

and rather than spend a bunch of time trying to fix a badly cut/ too deep key, I would just get the ilco ones cut ($5 since they are non-transponder) at a local ACE hardware who carries ilco brand, and then move the chip once you have a good cut.

 

[Brain75]

they will probably have to order the keys, since they don't stock "oddballs" like this, but here is an example from the ilco catalog - this one is one that has the little openable cubby and can be ordered "head only", "blade only", etc

FWIW, I have not ordered this and have not fixed my issues. The little teenage girl who cut the keys at my local ace was obviously deathly afraid of the wire wheel and barely touched the keys to the wheel at all... I am going to brush mine down once I go to harbor freight and get a brass wire wheel myself.

 

[eaglescout94]

Awesome, thank you. I will give those a look. The guy that cut my keys has been doing it for years but none of that matters i guess if the cylinder is worn out enough or the key he templated off is worn down. You hit the nail on the head pretty well, its like the key is cut a mm or so too far. If the truck was mine i probably wouldn't bother or I'd just wrap the head in some electrical tape but the fact I'm selling it I'd prefer it not to have issues that I could have fixed. For that matter one of the keys I tossed might have been the ilco key youre talking about