ford focus 2003 LX-key will not turn in switch

I have a problem with turning my key. It will not turn at all. I have taken the upper and lower part of the cover off to expose the switch and removed one screw from the ignition housing, but the internal part of the ignition switch will not come out. How do I completely remove this ignition switch. I have already removed the negative battery cable. It seems this is a continual problem with focuses. Oh, do I need a releasing tool to release the ignition switch. Thanks for your help in advance.

It has been a very long time since I did this with a friends 2000 Focus but if I remember right I had to remove a roll pin in the housing where the barrel is and then you had to turn the key to a certain position and then it comes out.But of course your's doesn't turn which is what my friends did also, so I had to drill out the whole barrel.Sorry for the vague reply but it's the best that I can remember .hopefully it helps you some in case no one else replies to your post.By the way I don't believe you need a tool to do this.

It has been a very long time since I did this with a friends 2000 Focus but if I remember right I had to remove a roll pin in the housing where the barrel is and then you had to turn the key to a certain position and then it comes out.But of course your's doesn't turn which is what my friends did also, so I had to drill out the whole barrel.Sorry for the vague reply but it's the best that I can remember .hopefully it helps you some in case no one else replies to your post.By the way I don't believe you need a tool to do this.
....Thank you so much.

....Thank you so much.
you don't drill out the whole barrel per say, you don't even need to drill anything actually, use a really coarse bolt, not to big not to small just big enough to thread into the key hole then with a slide hammer yank that sucker out after that go and purchase a new one at a dealer(take your key so they can make that key) and pop it in

My 2000 Ford Focus did that too. Cost me quite a bundle at the Dealer to get the barrel replaced.
Supposedly a very common problem with the 2000 Focus. You would think that they would have solved that problem by now.

I had that same problem all I had to do is get the car ignition switch or the key reprogrammed I don't remember which one of the two I had to get reprogrammed. this is because newer cars are starting to come with keys that have chips.

I hope this helps, Jan

Yeah my Moms Focus did that and the dealership said it was becoming a common problem but it was not covered under warrenty cause the miles on the car

I also have this problem. We keep a small hammer in the car for this purpose, a tap or two on the head of the key, or many times just hitting it with the palm of the hand allows the key to be turned.