Jammed Ignition Barrel

[Anthony 1,002]

Bit of an odd one regarding the ignition barrel on a 205 I've got here at the moment.

 

Worked fine yesterday and gave no issue, but came to it this evening and it appears to be jammed and the key won't turn.

 

Symptoms are exactly like the steering lock is on, but moving the steering wheel to release any pressure on the ignition lock has no effect - key goes in and out of the barrel as normal, but just won't turn. I've tried wiggling the key in every direction, inserted the key both ways around, wiggling the steering wheel, putting pressure against the steering lock.... but nothing.

 

The key doesn't obviously look worn or damaged, and still operates the other locks fine.

 

A search suggested that a worn key can cause problems like this out of the blue and hence I've asked the owner of the car if they have a spare key that I can try, but aside from that, has anyone had this happen? My concern is that the pins/tumbler inside the barrel has failed/dropped as I've heard of that happening with door locks, and I'm guessing effectively renders the barrel scrap, which would be a shame considering the car has a complete matching lockset

[Baz 421]

Ahh! When we spoke earlier i thought you meant that the key was stuck in the ignition and wouldn't turn!

 

Still no help but I had similar on one i bought years ago, the owner claimed the key was the right one but stopped working, i always thought he was just a bullsh!tter! I think i changed the complete upper column including ignition barrel.

 

I seem to remember one that had a tricky ignition barrel that didn't always work, but if you wiggled the key around it would 'catch' and work which was quite tiresome at times, i'm guessing you've tried that though!

[kyepan 291]

have you tried the jiggle... (my name for the thing lock pickers do when they are trying to pick the lock)

look it up, it's not the right name but there is a technique for doing it with worn locks that sometimes yields results.

[deathbringer929 49 1 Cars]

have you tried the jiggle... (my name for the thing lock pickers do when they are trying to pick the lock)

look it up, it's not the right name but there is a technique for doing it with worn locks that sometimes yields results.

 

lock bumping??

 

put a small amount of pressure on the key to turn and tap it on the end. loads of videos of this on you tube.

[Anthony 1,002]

Right, managed to sort this in the end.

 

The spare key didn't work either, and what set the alarm bells ringing was Josh (the owner) saying that the steering lock had never worked before and being surprised that it was now working.

 

I dropped the steering column down so that I could get at the barrel, and with a bar got on the back of the barrel to apply force as I was now convinced that it was something related to the steering lock, and sure enough the barrel moved a little and the locking pin was able to retract and the key turned freely again. Now that I was able to remove the barrel, there was noticeable marks and damage to the locking pin from I'm guessing someone having tried to force it previously which I suspect was causing it to jam.

 

Filed it back flat again and sprayed a touch of WD40 on it, and it is all working perfectly again, with the steering lock reliably engaging and disengaging.

 

Still none the wiser as to why it randomly decided to engage when I had the car (and hadn't touched the steering!) and yet had never done it to him in the 18 months odd that he's had the car. Old French cars eh.... who'd have 'em?

[Baz 421]

Sorted anyhoo! It was his old lockset from his previous car too wasn't it? Pretty sure we swapped the locks when re-shelling.

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

It was a different lock set I fitted after the reshell, not quite sure why the steering lock never engaged in the past. All working now though, just need to sort the timing and it should be great to drive!

 

And the floppy wishbone