QuestionQUESTION: Hi Douglas,
The ignition lock in my '91 Plymouth Voyager is faulty and needs to be replaced. The Haynes Manual does not provide the procedure for fear that the airbag on the steering wheel may accidentally deploy. I would be grateful if you could pl explain the procedure and a safe way to do the job.
Thanks very much.
Lock cylinder
ANSWER: Hello Gibson:
The lock cylinders fail quite often on these vehicles. Try this:
Insert the key into the lock and gently tap the key deeper into the lock with a small hammer. Do not hit it any harder than you would if you were hitting your own thumb...you don't want to break the key, just jar the lock to read the key. The tumblers are stuck.
If that doesn't work, the you will need to replace the lock by forcefully removing the old one like this:
First remove the lower steering column covers. There are 2-3 Phillips screws on the bottom holding cover in place. Now you can see the lock housing. Look underneath. You will see a small opening (about ½ inch square) with a metal tab in it. This is the release pin for the lock cylinder. This tab is what needs to be depressed to remove the lock.
Very carefully, so as not to damage the thin lock housing holding the lock, take a punch and hammer and drive the locking tab (release pin) of the lock cylinder up into the lock. Once it is depressed enough (it's a soft metal & will crush slightly into the lock), you will be able to simply slide the lock cylinder out so you can replace it with a new one.
To reinstall the new lock, you will need to turn the internal switch position to the "on" position. Do this carefully with a large blade screwdriver.
The enclosed photo shows the locking (Release pin) that needs to be depressed.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Douglas,
I appreciate your quick response. Thanks so much.
The problem with my ignition lock is actually the spring-loaded starter action ..... the key turns loose with no spring action. I see a small metal part in the lock housing has broken off ... so the engine does not crank.
To remove the lower steering column cover I had to use a Torx T20 screwdriver to remove 3 screws. However the ignition lock itself is secured by 3 same type screws but with centre poles on their heads and will require a tamperproof Torx T20 screwdriver for removal. I don't have one of those and will have to go buy one. My Voyager is an LE model and so maybe a bit different.
I suppose once I have those screws removed its a matter of unplugging the wires and then putting in the new ignition lock and putting everything back in reverse order of removal.
BTW I did read somewhere that the battery terminals should be disconnected first and then wait 15 minutes before starting the work. I wonder if that is a safety feature to prevent accidental deployment of the airbag.
Any follow-up comments would be very much appreciated and thanks very much again.
Have a nice day.
AnswerGibson,
You have described a broken actuator inside the lock housing beyond the key and before the ignition switch. the only repair for that is to replace the lock housing (@ $100 part form the dealer only) or another column. I would recommend the part rather than replacing the column. that just gets into more issues like the airbag and steering wheel, etc. You are about 1/2 way there now. The bolts that hold the housing in place are 27 tamperproof torx bolts located under the tilt springs on the top of the column. They go through and hold the housing to the bottom of the column. The other bolts you are referring to are actually 10 tamperproof, but you cannot buy any of the parts except the the ignition switch which should come with a new housing anyhow. Everything else should plug and play.
Good luck
(Yes, the recommended procedure for airbag safety is to disconnect the battery and wait 10 minutes for the capacitor to discharge. The you are completely safe as long as you do not use a powered test light to check things.)
