A failed attempt at turning the ignition key in your Ford Focus indicates internal damage to the lock cylinder. This type of damage typically happens from forcing the cylinder to turn while the steering wheel is in the locked position. The lock cylinder has many gears within it that can easily get knocked off track. Failing to unlock the steering wheel before you turn the key will cause such an action to occur. You can remove the lock cylinder in your 2000 Ford Focus with a few tools right at home. The job should take you 20 to 30 minutes to finish.
Lift the hood on your 2000 model Focus and locate the battery. Remove the negative cable on your car's battery with a socket wrench. Position the cable away from its connecting post.
Open the driver's door on the Focus and kneel down in the doorway facing the steering wheel. Below the steering wheel, you should see a rectangular piece of trim that mounts against the dashboard. This is called the knee-panel.
Remove the four bolts at the bottom lip of the knee-panel with your socket wrench. Pull the knee-panel away from the dashboard. Set the panel with its four bolts to the side, away from your immediate working space.
Remove the two screws from the lower steering column shroud with a Phillips screwdriver. The lower shroud is the piece of trim that covers the bottom of your Focus's steering wheel.
Insert your Focus's ignition key into the lock cylinder and turn it forward into position 1. If you look at the top of your Focus's lock cylinder two inches from the key, you should see a small hole. Within the hole as you look down into it, you should see a small notch. Stick the blade of a small flat-head screwdriver down into the hole and push down on the notch. While you have the notch pressed down, grab the ignition key--without turning it--and pull the lock cylinder outward to remove it.
