Kiawah Bird
- Reaction score
- 3
- Thunderbird Year
- 2002
Have to "jimmy" key to get it into ignition Anyone had this problem and know solution?
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Frankie the Fink
- Reaction score
- 468
- Thunderbird Year
- 2002
Hmmm.....I know of the issue on other cars; particularly when owners have the key inserted in the ignition on a ring with a big wad of other do-dads swinging around while driving. This wears the key down and causes problems. Perhaps a previous owner did this.
My first instinct would be to lubricate the ignition lightly and make sure there are no burrs on the key; e.g. lightly file any defects.
My first instinct would be to lubricate the ignition lightly and make sure there are no burrs on the key; e.g. lightly file any defects.
B
Bond007
Click here to upgrade
- Reaction score
- 246
- Thunderbird Year
- 2003
Try spraying some graphite key lubricant into the cylinder.
biddle
Forum Moderator
Staff member
- Reaction score
- 1,123
- Thunderbird Year
- 2003
stevedaphotoman
Click here to upgrade
- Reaction score
- 265
- Thunderbird Year
- 2002
Also check to see if the key is bent.. If it is, tap it straight with a small hammer.. I often use my keys like a knife to open the tape on boxes.. 🙂
Mrdan
- Reaction score
- 12
- Thunderbird Year
- 2002
Try a spare key to see if you have the same problem, or have another key cut , a dealer could cut another key off the vin number also
- Reaction score
- 31
- Thunderbird Year
- 2004
Had an issue a month ago where key would not go in at all. Called mobile locksmith, who picked the dustcover out of the way, put my key in, and ordered a replacement. I took car in for installation of the new cylinder the following weekend; when I returned for pick-up, the locksmith showed me that whomever had replaced the cylinder in the past had installed the plastic shield upside down (I recall the previous owner telling me he had had to have a mobile locksmith come out because the keys were misplaced on the day he was moving; the same guy punched a hole in the seat somehow). I didn't need a new cylinder at all, he just re-installed the shield in the correct orientation. Still cost me $100 labor, because it took the same amount of work as replacing the cylinder. Locksmith said that the dust covers do sometimes fail to retract, and the easiest fix is to just remove the dust-cover, which I would be leery about doing on a convertible. No issues since then.
biddle
Forum Moderator
Staff member
- Reaction score
- 1,123
- Thunderbird Year
- 2003
@Kiawah Bird why did you file a spam complaint about your email notification for this thread? SMH.
