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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Focus / August 2005

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ignition key wont turn

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TSS1112 - 21 Jun 2005 17:22 GMT
HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
IS WRONG WITH IT
Tony Wesley - 21 Jun 2005 17:45 GMT
> HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
> IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
> IS WRONG WITH IT

A bad ignition lock.  Foci seem to suffer from this.
Josef Erbs - 21 Jun 2005 20:57 GMT
Tony Wesley schrieb:

>>HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
>>IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
>>IS WRONG WITH IT
>
> A bad ignition lock.  Foci seem to suffer from this.

Hi
American foci seem to suffer from this. Never heard about this here in
Germany.
But our new friend with the malfunctionaly keyboard doesn´t tell us
where he lives.
If he´s from Europe or Asia, there could be a new problem.
bye
Jupp
Alan - 22 Jun 2005 00:11 GMT
>American foci seem to suffer from this. Never heard about this here in
>Germany.

Different key style,  therefore different locks in Europe.

Signature

Alan
mailto:news2me_a_2003@amacleod.clara.co.uk

Josef Erbs - 22 Jun 2005 00:26 GMT
Alan schrieb:

>> American foci seem to suffer from this. Never heard about this here in
>> Germany.
>
> Different key style,  therefore different locks in Europe.

Hi
corret, I know that.
I only wanted to point out that it would be helpful to tell where
someone lives when posting a problem that is not the same everywhere.
bye
Jupp
Dave Gower - 21 Jun 2005 18:40 GMT
> HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
> IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
> IS WRONG WITH IT

You need a new lock. It has to be done by a dealer or locksmith since it
needs to be set to your existing keys. Costs me a couple hundred $ including
tow.
Henri - 21 Jun 2005 19:30 GMT
Go with the locksmith, not only will he be cheaper but will install a better
quality lock. The locksmith might also come to your house, or where the car
is parked, so you can avoid the cost of the tow. Scuttlebutt on the internet
is the new Ford OEM redesigned locks are still failing.

> HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
> IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
> IS WRONG WITH IT

You need a new lock. It has to be done by a dealer or locksmith since it
needs to be set to your existing keys. Costs me a couple hundred $ including
tow.
John R Cambron - 22 Jun 2005 16:00 GMT
> Go with the locksmith, not only will he be cheaper but will install a better
> quality lock. The locksmith might also come to your house, or where the car
> is parked, so you can avoid the cost of the tow. Scuttlebutt on the internet
> is the new Ford OEM redesigned locks are still failing.

The second one that was installed by the dealer has infact failed.

I just leave the key in the lock and carry a second key to get in
the car.

Signature

John in the sand box of Marylands eastern shore.

Josef Erbs - 22 Jun 2005 22:27 GMT
John R Cambron schrieb:

>>Go with the locksmith, not only will he be cheaper but will install a better
>>quality lock. The locksmith might also come to your house, or where the car
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I just leave the key in the lock and carry a second key to get in
> the car.

Hi
that´s a very bad idea.
When your car gets stolen, the insurance will not pay a dime.
That´s for Germany, I think that is the same way in most other countries.
bye
Jupp
John R Cambron - 23 Jun 2005 16:26 GMT
> John R Cambron schrieb:
> >
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> When your car gets stolen, the insurance will not pay a dime.
> That´s for Germany, I think that is the same way in most other countries.

My car has over 200,000 mile on it, my insurance company will not
pay much more then a dime anyway. The Ford Focus is not that high
on stolen car scale, and I don't travel to areas and park my car
long enough for the risk to be that high.

Signature

John in the sand box of Marylands eastern shore.

Josef Erbs - 23 Jun 2005 20:40 GMT
John R Cambron schrieb:

> My car has over 200,000 mile on it, my insurance company will not
> pay much more then a dime anyway. The Ford Focus is not that high
> on stolen car scale, and I don't travel to areas and park my car
> long enough for the risk to be that high.

Hi
it might be bad enough if some kids smash your Window, get into the car
and get away with it. Some miles later they may drive into a group of
people, hit a bus or do some other damage to other property or health.

I don´t know what your mind is going to tell you when something like
that happens because you left your key in your car.
bye
Jupp
John R Cambron - 24 Jun 2005 06:54 GMT
> John R Cambron schrieb:
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> I don´t know what your mind is going to tell you when something like
> that happens because you left your key in your car.

The odds of such a scenario to happen is so low that I laugh at
this comment.

Signature

John in the sand box of Marylands eastern shore.

acraftylady - 07 Jul 2005 19:35 GMT
"" wrote:

> > John R Cambron schrieb:
> >
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> at
> this comment.

I was looking for info on my Focus when I saw this question.  I had
the ignition problem with my 2000 focus.  I was at the store when it
happened and since I have AAA plus I called them figuring they would
have to tow me to Ford but they informed me I have locksmith service
and they sent that guy and he fixed it on the spot with a much better
one all free of charge under my AAA service so that was a load off my
mind about paying for another repair on this car.
John R Cambron - 22 Jun 2005 15:57 GMT
> HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
> IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
> IS WRONG WITH IT

To be precise the ignition switches defect is related to the
quality of the pins in the cylinder lock. They are made of
Brass. When the ware on the pins exceed the tolerance needed to
turn lock the lock will not turn.

In the mean time incert the key in the lock strike the key
a couple of times that should set the pins so you can turn
the key.

I am on my second ignition lock which has also failed. I just
leave a key in the ignition all the time and carry a second
key to unlock the car.

Signature

John in the sand box of Marylands eastern shore.

Dave Gower - 22 Jun 2005 16:59 GMT
> I am on my second ignition lock which has also failed. I just
> leave a key in the ignition all the time and carry a second
> key to unlock the car.

This is actually illegal in some places, but what I do is squirt in lock
lubricant (not regular oil, which attracts dirt) a couple of times a year.
This used to be part of normal auto maintenance.
Henri - 22 Jun 2005 19:23 GMT
When was it part of normal auto maintenance to squirt lock lubricant into
the ignition lock?

I do not know of any one who does this and should not have to any how.

I have many old car manuals/service manuals both domestic and imported and
no where can I find any reference to putting lock lubricant into the
ignition lock as being part of normal car maintenance.

Me thinks you are "BSing" us.

"John R Cambron" <*cambronj@chesapeake.net*> wrote

> I am on my second ignition lock which has also failed. I just
> leave a key in the ignition all the time and carry a second
> key to unlock the car.

This is actually illegal in some places, but what I do is squirt in lock
lubricant (not regular oil, which attracts dirt) a couple of times a year.
This used to be part of normal auto maintenance.
Nick the Greek - 22 Jun 2005 20:40 GMT
>"John R Cambron" <*cambronj@chesapeake.net*> wrote
>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>Me thinks you are "BSing" us.

I was surprised to notice my key was oiled after a couple of uses.
This only means the ignition lock has some kind of lubricant in it as
the key was perfectly clean when I received it.

-Nick
Dave Gower - 23 Jun 2005 19:52 GMT
> I was surprised to notice my key was oiled after a couple of uses.
> This only means the ignition lock has some kind of lubricant in it as
> the key was perfectly clean when I received it.

Lubricating exterior locks has long been standard practise, but the ignition
lock has often been done both at the factory and by conscientious
technicians.  It isn't needed everywhere, depending on climate. Greece is
probably included because of dry dusty conditions.
Dave Gower - 23 Jun 2005 19:50 GMT
> I do not know of any one who does this

Heh. You're so crabby and negative I'm not surprised your circle is limited.
rebhandem - 27 Aug 2005 06:34 GMT
This method worked great to fix our ignition problem... thanx a mil...
rufus20 - 05 Aug 2005 00:20 GMT
Here is a cut and paste from another thread:
First of all, a correction: it's a 2003 ZX5.
I Googled "Ford Focus ignition" and found, literally, dozens of sites with
postings from angry owners. I found some that are on their third ignition.
Interestingly, many people report having tow operators say the same thing
about towing many Foci with broken ingnitions. I wonder which dealer in the
country HAS seen this problem before?
In my research, Ford has never acknowledged the problem or issued a
Technical Service Bulletin regarding it (however, I did find TSBs covering
my broken windshield wipers and horn).
I'm considering taking this up with the consumer unit of the local
television station to see how many cases of this obvious defect it stirs up.
I'll keep the group posted.

> My dealer said the exact same thing: "never seen this problem before". The
> tow truck driver told me he had, personally, hauled a dozen or more Foci
to
> that dealer for the very same problem. Car dealers aren't known for their
> integrity, and, perhaps, this helps to illustrate why.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> "rufus20" wrote ...
> > The key won't turn in the ignition of my 2002 ZX5. I'm bringing it to
the
> > dealer tomorrow who says that it is an uncommon issue.
> > I see a lot of postings here regarding this "uncommon" issue.
> > Who has had a similar problem?

> HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
> IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
> IS WRONG WITH IT
jasonsfuzzyhead - 08 Aug 2005 06:37 GMT
"" wrote:
> HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY
> GOOS IN BUT
> IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY
> IDEAS ON WHAT
> IS WRONG WITH IT

I had that same exact problem. It was something with the ignition
switch went bad. You have to take it to a ford dealership. they will
replace it...you don’t have to get a new key made I don’t think, I had
to because my key was stripped...but they made me two keys for the
price of one..and fixed it. It was a simple process
G Girard - 24 Aug 2005 01:14 GMT
>HI I HAVE A 2001 FORD FOCUS AND WHEN I TRY TO START IT THE KEY GOOS IN BUT
>IT WONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE LOCK POSSION ANY IDEAS ON WHAT
>IS WRONG WITH IT

I live in Canada (Quebec) I have a 2003 ZX5, last week the ingnition
key did not want to turn. The dealer where I bought the car told me to
tap (hit) on the key while it is in the cylinder lock,. It did work,
and the key turn after that.

The next day I went to the dealer to get it repaired. They dind not
had the parts for the repair so i asked them to remove the tumbler in
the cylinder lock, that way the key would not jam anymore.

The antitheif is still working because the tansponder is still in the
key.

NOW I AM SURE THAT THE "/%$?(*() KEY WILL NOT JAM.

Pinetci

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