Ignition Switch Won't Turn!

[BartusCompater]

So the story goes like this:

My Spider was out of commission for about a week or two due to some sort of injection problem or AFM flap problem that I didn't have time to deal with. During the time that the car was sitting I ended up losing my keys. My key ring went missing and my spare was nowhere to be found. So the car sat for about a month or two total before gave up on finding the keys and set aside some money to hire a locksmith to make a new one.

So I hired a locksmith and lo and behold (it would have been too miraculous for something to go right for once), the locksmith was unable to make a key after multiple hour long sessions of attempting. He says he went through six blanks trying to make a key and just couldn't do it.

HOWEVER, through a stroke of luck my keys just happened to turn up where I work. Last week I joyfully took the cover off of the Fiat and put the keys in and once again, I was reminded of the martyrdom that I signed up for when I bought this car. The ignition switch would not budge, even with the key all the way inside, even with the wheel lock disengaged, and even after spraying some lubricant inside and wiggling the key around at the recommendation of the locksmith.

He came out today to look at the switch himself and was unable to get the switch to turn.

He's been a locksmith for 18 years, he was recommended to me, and he's made Fiat keys before, he says. He even told me when I hired him that he knew the Fiat switch was fragile. But he says he can't thing of anything that he could have done that would have broken the switch, that all he did was try to make an impression (though I know he's used other tools to push the tumblers and stuff).

Over the time that I was missing the key I never tried any other keys or screwdrivers or lubricants or anything of the sort. I never used anything except for the original key in the ignition, and when I lost it nothing entered the switch by my hand. Now I have the key back and the switch won't budge even with the key inserted all of the way.

Does anyone know what might have caused the switch to stop turning? Is there something about these switches that perhaps the locksmith wouldn't have known about? What would you do in this situation? I don't know whether I'm in a position to just give up and drill the switch out, which I really don't want to do, or to demand that he comp me for a new one, or what. Maybe the switch isn't broken and I'm just missing something?

[JimM]

I just replaced my ignition switch about a month ago and my 1st question is how did you unlock the steering wheel if you can't turn the key? Try jiggeling the steering wheel while trying to turn the key. These ignition switches won't turn if the wheel is locked and you also can't remove the switch if it is locked. Good luck!!!!

Jim

[BartusCompater]

The wheel lock was one of the first things that I thought of when the key wouldn't work, so I tested it out after the key didn't work. The wheel wasn't locked at first and I turned and locked it up after first trying the key to see if maybe that had something to do with it.

[majicwrench]

Oh the agony.
I am sure you and/or the locksmith have tried this, but often on key/tumbler issues you need to pull the key out just a tad to make em work.
Another hint...tis often small shavings of metal locking things up. Find something small metal that will fit in, heck even the key, and stick a magnet on it, so the whole thing is now magnetized. Work it gently and it may pull somethign out, or at least move it.
Have you or the locksmith blown it out with compressed air??

Let us know,
Keith

[BartusCompater]

He has tried compressed air, and I tried in every possible way, with the key in all the way, out partially, out halfway... etc.

The magnet is a good idea though, I'll see if I can figure something out with that.

[BartusCompater]

So its been a while and the locksmith seems to have been giving me the runaround but I talked to him again today.

He said he talked to a Fiat parts supplier about the switch, and that the parts supplier claims it's fairly common for these ignition switches to freeze up. I'm still almost 100% certain that something happened while the locksmith was trying to make a key but I can't really do anything about it other than just drill the old switch out and replace it. The locksmith says he talked to somebody who sells the switches for $69.99 so it looks like I'm just gonna have to swallow frustration, buckle down and replace the switch again.

[wikkid]

I'd buy a used switch from folks on here - old, original style, rather than a $70 car part from a locksmith. The switches are also available thru the usual vendors.

[BartusCompater]

Sure, I actually got this last switch from one of the members here before and it was a really pleasant experience. If anyone would be willing to sell me an ignition switch please just send me a PM or email me at groshd @ u (dot) washington (dot) edu (no spaces, (dot)= . )

[azruss]

seen a lot of complaints about the new switches failing early in life. chinese made, i think. apparently, the old factory switches are rebuildable and more reliable. I've never had a factory switch fail on me...even in the NW rain.

[majicwrench]

One more old trick to try...
Insert key and hold with pair of plier and try to turn gently. Now tap key with small hammer while jiggling/trying to turn key. Works wonders on some old GM key and tumblers.
Keith

[Zippy]

One more old trick to try...
Insert key and hold with pair of plier and try to turn gently. Now tap key with small hammer while jiggling/trying to turn key. Works wonders on some old GM key and tumblers.
Keith

The old "bump lock picking" trick. Go to youtube.com and put in "bump lock picking" you will get lots of videos to watch. Since you have a key that should work this may just loosen things up enough to get it to turn. Shhh! Don't tell anyone else.

[BartusCompater]

Holy **** I just put some pliers to that key and it turned with hardly any effort. Switch works fine.

Wow. All that trouble for nothing.