1990 F150 Ignition key removal question.

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DjE - 19 Jun 2005 02:36 GMT

Whats the procedure to remove my broken ignition key tumbler on my 1990
F-150? Do I need to remove the steering column and disassemble
everything? Or is there an easier way? It's getting to the point where
you really need to twist the key really hard to get it to turn over.
Now the ignition key won't come out unless you twist and mess with the
tumbler. $12.00 will fix it right up with a new tumbler but I don't
know how to remove the old one.

TIA!

-Dave

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DJ - 19 Jun 2005 02:56 GMT

>Whats the procedure to remove my broken ignition key tumbler on my 1990
>F-150? Do I need to remove the steering column and disassemble
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>tumbler. $12.00 will fix it right up with a new tumbler but I don't
>know how to remove the old one.

I don't have my 91 F150 any longer or I'd go out and look, but...

If I remember correctly, you need to turn the key to "ON" then there
is a small hole where you depress a spring loaded retaining pin, pull
tumbler out.

>-Dave

Another Dave

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DjE - 19 Jun 2005 04:03 GMT

>>Whats the procedure to remove my broken ignition key tumbler on my 1990
>>F-150? Do I need to remove the steering column and disassemble
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Another Dave

I see the hole on the bottom/side of the column. I tried sticking a
long allen wrench in there and fiddling around. I will try again.

Thanks!

-Dave again

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DjE - 19 Jun 2005 05:49 GMT

> Whats the procedure to remove my broken ignition key tumbler on my 1990
> F-150? Do I need to remove the steering column and disassemble
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> -Dave

Ok! I got the tumbler removed via the little silver button on the
forward edge of the column. BUT, while using a screwdriver to turn the
assembly, it still behaves like it did with the tumbler-:

The gear selector still is "locked" and won't shift out of PARK. Even
with the "key" turned all the way on to "RUN".
START doesn't exist anymore via the "key". All the way clockwise
"START" is only "RUN". Gear selector WON'T unlock no matter what. Does
this model year (1990) have the electronic selector lockout on the brake
pedal? Maybe I pulled a wire loose today messing with it.

Now what oh knowlegable FORD truck people? I assume there is some
linkage in there (my Haynes manual is lacking good diagrams) that is
messed up. Anyone ever tangle with this before on an F150? It
appears that the positions on the key are off by one and the gear
selector won't unlock.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as the kids want to go boating
tomorrow as its gonna be in the 90s and I really hate to drive the wifes
Blazer. :)

TIA!

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DJ - 19 Jun 2005 07:11 GMT

>> Whats the procedure to remove my broken ignition key tumbler on my 1990
>> F-150? Do I need to remove the steering column and disassemble
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>tomorrow as its gonna be in the 90s and I really hate to drive the wifes
>Blazer. :)

My symptoms were a bit different but I'll relate my experience in case
it helps. If it's the same problem you're gonna be driving the Blazer
tommorow.

Disclaimer: this was on a 91 F150 w/5 speed manual and tilt column,
YMMV if you don't have the tilt. I can't say what the difference may
be with a auto tranny.

The "key switch" in the steering column operates a long shaft that
moves a selector on the "electrical switch" which is mounted to the
side of the column, under the dash. Mine broke where the linkage from
the key switch connects to the shaft. I had to disassemble the upper
portion of the steering column to access the linkage.

I couldn't figure out how to get the column apart so I ended up
removing the whole thing, thinking that was the way. I got the broken
part out, but only because it was broken and no longer attached. I
took the new part home and couldn't figure how to install it. The
secret was that the yoke of the tilt mechanism was held in the column
by two tiny ( I think it was two) allen head setscrews, Once I took
them out, it was fairly simple to disassemble the head of the column
and install the new acutuator. The replacement part is cheap,
considering how much of PITA it was to install. Now that I know how, I
could do it pretty easily...

I managed to find the invoice and part # for it (sometimes it pays to
be anal retentive, it's a two yr old invoice on a truck I sold a year
ago).

I plugged the part number into:

http://www.parts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=318

E9TZ3E715B $9.90 $8.32
Steering column - Housing and components - Actuator
Actuator 1987 - 1991

>TIA!

Have fun at the lake, I'm going dirt biking in the mountains...

DJ

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DjE - 19 Jun 2005 09:24 GMT

>>>Whats the procedure to remove my broken ignition key tumbler on my 1990
>>>F-150? Do I need to remove the steering column and disassemble
[quoted text clipped - 71 lines]
>
> DJ

Thanks! It IS this little actuator linkage thingy. It connects the
pinion part of the tumbler to the gear shifter detent/lock then to the
ignition "box" via a thin linkage. It's made of aluminum/pot metal and
has a long shaft that goes thru to the shifter. My F150 does/did had
tilt but I never knew it as there was no extra knob as the tilt was on
the blinker arm. heh. Anyways, I will look for the allen screws.
Otherewise it appears that the main steering shaft is pressed together
at the joint.

-Dave

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