Re: Anyone replace their Ignition switch yet?
OK, it seems like everyone has had this problem or if they have not had it yet they will. My ignition switch has been sticking for about a month and although it has been tough to start sometimes, I could always fiddle with it and get it started in about 20 seconds.
Well the car went to the dealer yesterday for an alignment and I mentioned to them about the sticking ignition switch because the service rep. could not get the car started. He said they would take a look at it. Well they diagnosed a bad ignition tumbler and said it would be about $500 to replace it (and they wanted to charge me $106 for that diagnosis). I said no and I would probably just replace the tumbler myself.
When I went to pick it up, nobody drove it up to me and they pointed in the lot where the car was (sign #1 there was a problem, and I had already paid them). I got to the car and the ignition would not turn over. I played with it for about 5 minutes and then went to ask them what they did. They just replied that it was sticking and took them about 3 minutes of playing with the steering wheel and turning the key to get it to unlock. Whatever they did it made it much worse. I sat for about 5 minutes and finally got it to turn. Dealer was completely worthless, and recommended replacing the tumbler again which I know does not solve the problem for good.
After reading this forum I was able to get the key to turn again and pulled out the ignition tumbler and it is not the problem, it is the steering wheel locking pin like everyone is saying. Does anyone have a DIY on how to get at that steering wheel locking pin like a few members have done and grind it down to fix this problem for good? I am going to take off all the panels tomorrow morning and get this fixed once and for all, but I don't know if "grinding the locking pin" means in the steering column or in the ignition switch. Is the pin spring-loaded? Someone mentioned the cam in the ignition switch getting worn and because it is locking the steering wheel. I don't want to grind something that will make things worse (actually the car will not move now so it can't get much worse). I did get it home and need to fix this before Monday... I need to get to work Monday morning, and god forbid if I got stuck at work because of this issue.
Any help from anyone who has done this fix to grind down the steering lock pin to permanently stop the ignition switch from sticking could you please reply with where this pin is and how to get at it. I've attached the ignition switch diagram from the manual ... is it in the ignition switch and visible when the tumbler is removed or is it in the steering column or around the ignition switch?
All forum members will need this and this problem will happen over and over for the life of the car..... Chrysler may be upset because they won't get $500 to replace the ignition tumbler from every crossfire owner a few times over the next 10-20 years, but how long can they ignore this obvious design flaw?
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by tcmarley; Dec 27, 2008 at 05:28 AM.