Old Jun 21, 2021 | 04:49 PM
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Deepsea21
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 257
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Default Re: Sticky Ignition Key Fix for all Crossfires 2004 thru 2006

Awesome Video on fixing this on YouTube posted by Paul! (Search Crossfire sticky key and it will show up). Just preformed the fix on my newly acquired 2004 crossfire. Couple of notes, my 2004 has a telescoping steering wheel and the locking pin that needs depressed to slide the ignition to the right for removal was not visible. However, I was able to take a wide standard screwdriver and place it between the plastic steering column housing and that metal band with the bolt on the bottom that gets loosened a bit and twist it to push the plastic back a bit to find it but it was right there. Then I just took a tiny screwdriver and slipped it up there to depress the pin while pulling the ignition to the right… No need to remove the steering column housing and such to get to it. If you have this housing the first thing you’ll say when you look for it is “OH ____!” But it is right there just to the left of where that piece of plastic is hiding it. One of the things that took me a while to figure out was getting the tumbler and lock back in the ignition with the key in the #2 position. I kept popping it all in and could get the locking ring on flush but the key wouldn't turn. I could put the cylinder/tumbler in the ignition with the locking ring off and the key would turn fine but not with the locking ring on. I then finally realized that in order for the key to turn you have to twist the locking ring back into it's initial position. It will slide on with the one flat side of the locking ring in the 7 o'clock position but you can't turn the key until you twist the locking ring so the flat side is back at the 12 o'clock position. This certainly fixed my issue which was having to work quite a bit to get the key to turn to the #2, further positions. As others have said… IT MOST LIKELY IS NOT THE CYLINDER/TUMBLER... With the key inserted my cylinder/tumbler was perfectly round with no wafers extended at all so one could squirt all the WD 40 and whatever else in there through the key hole, pound on it all day, and it would accomplish absolutely nothing. Do this fix before your key sticks to the point you can't get it into the #2 position as once that happens it's a bigger PITA having to drill out that pin. Also, don't pay a fortune to have a dealer replace your ignition with a new one as you’ll just have the same problem in no time again. The design is defective and can only be fixed by eliminating the problem in the design.
 

Last edited by Deepsea21; Jun 21, 2021 at 04:55 PM.
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