Ignition Key Cylinder Locked

[joehail]

I have somehow locked my ignition key cylinder on my 94 F-150.

I replaced the shift lever about 6 months ago, and all was fine. I parked the truck a couple of weeks ago, went to fire it up a few days later and I can't get the key to budge a millimeter.

I have tried wiggling the key, wiggling the steering wheel. nothing seems to work. I thought it might be a fuse, but all the fuses and relays are good.

I am at my wits end here.

Any Suggestions?

[mikecee48]

Good one!
You may already know this, but since you mentioned "wiggling" the steering wheel, I'll bring this up in hopes that it might help. If the steering wheel was turned to a locked position after the key was removed, it can put a bind on the key linkage. You can tell by moving the wheel and if won't budge in one direction and is hard to move in the other, this may be the problem. To correct it, move the wheel in the direction that it will move, and then try to turn the key while holding the wheel.

Next remedy may be to remove the lock cylinder and there is trick to do this, but I don't recall it for your year truck. Hopefully, another member may suggest how to do that. Once removed, maybe a long slot screwdriver can be inserted in the lock cylinder hole to insert it into the linkage rod and with a twist see if it will move the rod to start the truck.

If none of the above, it sounds like the wheel will have to come off to check out the mechanism in the shifter tube and all.

[SteveStLoo]

I believe you turn the key to the 'on' position.. then unscrew it from underneath, and the cylinder should pop right out.