QuestionI'll start by letting you know some kind folk decided to break into my car with the intention of stealing it. They jammed a screw driver in my door and succeeded in getting it open, so they decided to try their luck using it in my ignition. Thankfully, we caught them in the act before they could do some real damage, but we realized they had broken their device off in my ignition trying to start my car. After a lot of grief that evening, desperately trying to see if we could get the piece out of my ignition so I could drive home, we had no luck and we had to have the car towed. So, Today we went to the auto parts store and got a "key and Tumbler" that fit an 87'-89' Toyota Camry LE. My husband and my father spent several hours just trying to figure out how to get the paneling off to get to the ignition. After they removed the paneling around the steering will (and several panels that didn't need removed after all) they got to the ignition switch...they couldn't figure how to remove it. I went on your site and I read your message board about it needing to be in the ACC position...we couldn't move the key lock to the ACC position...so we proceeded to drill. Finally getting it out of there, and replacing it with the new one. We had a hell of a time getting it lined up, but we finally were able to start it. The only thing that was odd is the "lock button" over my ignition key I press to remove my key was stuck and we didn't have to use it to remove the key. So I got in my car ready to try it out, and the key turned over fine and I was ready to pull away and I realized after I was backing out my steering wheel locked up. It would lock up only in the ACC, On, and Starter position, but when I switched it over to off it would release. Then, after trying it back and forth, starting the car and wriggling around with it, the key got stuck and now wont come out of the ignition in the ACC mode. We have no clue what we did wrong. If you could please help us out, we have not a clue. Thank you for your time...Sincerely, Melissa
AnswerI don't know if I can be of much help but I'll try, the last part of your text says that the key got stuck and won't come out in the ACC mode, it is not supposed to come out unless it is in the lock position,or did you mean the cylinder won't come out of the lock in the acc position?
Something was not put together right, I don't know what it may be but there is obviously another problem, I would recommend that you get this car to a locksmith or to a toyota dealer and have the problem resolved, there are some repairs that should be performed by professional people and are beyond the scope of do it yourself individuals, the thiefs may have damaged other parts of the ignition lock by trying to force it to turn, I don't know but you need to get someone that knows what they are doing involved, I have no other solution for you.
