This is my 1st time with the dreaded sticky key in my R170 car so I tackled the project and have the tumbler in hand only to realize that it could be several issues. I watched the videos and have removed the spring and lock under the silver cover. Is that the fix? Why do I keep seeing where they are replacing the tumbler in some of the videos? Some suggest filing down any wafer that sticks up when you have the key inserted. Replacement is not an option at this point.

When I went to turn the car off it would not allow me to turn the key back to the start position so I could pull the key out sometimes. I will start using the newer key of the 2 I have but do I need to do more than remove the items I did?

 

Removing just the spring and pin will correct the problem most of the time. That is all I did, no tumblers involved and that corrected my problem years ago; No problem since.

 

thanks, I am at the point of putting the tumbler back in now and moving on. As far as the keys being worn out I could have a new key cut from the best of my two I have since the chip is not in the key, its in the fob. One key is worn more that the other so I will stop using it regardless.

 

The key just needs to fit the tumbler. Sometimes the key will not turn if the steering is cocked and you must move the steering wheel.

 

sure, I am aware of that but I was getting the sticky key issues and wanted to address it while in the driveway, not at the beach. Pin and spring removed as per XF Paul's Video. Several others on YT mentioned several other reasons that the key would stick. Glad to know the fix I used worked for others. I had the upper and lower covers out so it was perfect timing. Thanks for the help.

 

Let us know your results after putting it all back together. The "sticky key fix" fixed all of my problems and when I did mine I did take the tumbler out and inserted both keys into it to see if perhaps I had a sticky tumbler or key wear that may have kept some of those wafers in the tumbler from fully retracting. With the keys in it was perfectly round with no wafers protruding anywhere. I did blast my tumbler with carb cleaner as a bunch of gunk had been sprayed into the ignition through the key hole trying to fix it. Once I blasted the tumbler clean with carb cleaner and cleaned out the ignition housing I put a light spray of WD40 on the tumbler instead of a heavier oil or graphite powder. I don't think I'll have any further problems... Daily driver for over a year and no more sticky key issues.

 

Because people assume.
Personally, I assume people are idiots.

Remove the wedge-thingy, and the spring. Drop maybe three drops of 10W oil in the chamber as well as on the plunger and I think you are done.

 

It worked like a charm, I blasted my tumbler with wd40 then used a liqurd graphite and let it dry before putting it back in. I also cleaned a few rough spots in the barrel with a rat file before cleaning it. My tumbler did flush out well and the rag I was using was dirty, mostly grit. I had a tough time getting everything lined up but once I did it went back together with no issues. I feel like that issue is behind me, thanks for the help. Soon I will feel like I have rounded the corner just like the others. BT radio to be installed with the stock Bose and if it does not cut it I have JBL Components to install left over from my SRT6. I do love these old cars. I dont think I can get this 2.3 as fast as the 3.2 but its fun as hell trying.

 

EDIT, went out yesterday and was using the better of the two keys I have and when I went to turn the car off it does not go back to the 0 location allowing me to remove the Darn key! When it does go back I hear the steering lock engage I assume so I may have a problem with the rod at the end, is that correct? I did read where some just cut the post off the end and do away with the steering lock? Does anyone have some info on this fix? I ordered a new barrel with 2 keys because mine was chewed up on one side of the waffers from hitting really badly. Plus I get 2 new keys with tumbler for 15 bucks. I am pulling it again and hopefully I can fix it for good today. This fix will get rid of steering lock and I will have a new tumbler and 2 new keys.

 

Does anyone know if the sticky key problem was resolved in later models of the XF?

 

Does anyone know if the sticky key problem was resolved in later models of the XF?

 

Sometime in the 2006 model year production run, they deleted the offending parts. So if you have a 2007 or 8, you are good.
If you have a 2004 or 2005, you really should fix it before it's an issue.
If you have a 2006, get in there and check!

 

Vintage, be sure you don't lose the tiny RFID chips in the front of the old key fobs. You will have to transfer the innards to start and run the car,

 

I've heard of some people who have a tumbler that has some offending wafers that don't retract all the way when the keys are inserted just grind down the wafers that are still protruding until they are flush again or remove them from the tumbler completely... Cheaper than new keys and a new tumbler and moving RFID chips around. A couple have removed all the wafers in the tumbler and just depend on the RFID chips to serve as theft protection. No thief is going to know the wafers have been removed from the tumbler.

 

Any other car Id be against doing that. As hard as these cars seem to be to keep starting right with the skreem stuff its probably not a bad idea.