key stuck in ignition... help!

[dazzlah]

1972 240Z

We lost the original key so had a key made at the locksmith based on the key code in the documents that came with the car. I tested the key on doors and hatch and it worked but it was a bit sticky. The wife decided she needed to move the car out of the garage so she fired the Z up. It started fine but then she could not turn it off. The key was stuck in the On position. She had to stall it to kill the engine (I can feel your cringe from here).

Any ideas? I dismantled the ingition swith as far I could. I took the back of the switch off by unscrewing the 2 little bolts that held the part that has the contact leads to the harness. The ingition lock looks like I would need to take it completely off to figure it out.

Any help would be appreciated... the Z is now on the driveway...

[viparz]

I cannot help with your stuck key but in my 240 the car would not turn off at all, I could turn the key all the way to lock and take it out and the engine would still be running. To kill the engine I had to pop the hood and hold a screw driver against one of the ingnition coil terminal and earth it against the body. It is how kill switches on motorbikes work. Good luck

[mwz]

The new key probably jammed the old (worn-out) tumblers in your igntion lock. Cutting a new key from the code would have worked fine when those locks were new, but now the igntion lock is so worn out inside that the 'new' key won't fit properly. It's a fairly common problem, and solution would be a new ignition lock.

If you decide to get a new lock, let me know...I can help :cheeky:

[dazzlah]

mwz

I think your suggestion is probably the way to go. Any help would be apreciated regarding getting the ignition lock fixed.

Thankyou!

[mwz]

dazzlah,

You have a private message.

Thanks,

Chloe

[Bambikiller240]

Originally posted by dazzlah

mwz

I think your suggestion is probably the way to go. Any help would be apreciated regarding getting the ignition lock fixed.

Thankyou!

A year or so ago, someone on the IZCC mail list indicated thathere are locksmiths who can disassemble and refurbish the ignition lock assemblies. I haven't tried having it done myself. I have existed using 3 keys (1 for hatch, 1 for doors, and 1 for Ign) for the past 4 years. Just recently was able to purchase a NOS complete lock set so I'll be back to "normal" (or the car will be, anyway) as soon as I get them installed. Pricey.

[EScanlon]

Remove the ignition lock assembly from the car and take it to a locksmith. Sometimes they can work miracles and get you fixed. However, there is no guarantee prior to going in.

From what you posted, it seems as though you may be having difficulty in removing the lock assembly from the steering column.

Look on the left hand side, you should see 4 "rivet" looking things if they haven't been removed previously. Those are breakaway security screws. You can try drilling them out, or use a screw ez-out, although some people have reported success by using a Dremel tool to cut a notch in the head and then using a regular flat head screwdriver. The key point is they ARE screws, and can be removed accordingly.

Once you are ready to replace them, you can buy replacement breakaways but most people find them to be a PITA and just use regular screws.

2¢

Enrique

[MariaAZ]

I had the same problem with my ignition switch; I couldn't get the 260Z to turn off as the key wouldn't turn. In a panic, I started jiggling the key, then discovered I was able to withdraw it by pulling it out of the ignition switch just a bit & pushing the key's head down while turning it to the off position. I pushed firmly but not REAL hard. Hope this helps! And I know exactly how your wife felt... I had just swapped the flat top carbs out, and the new carbs were running waaaaaaay rich when it happened to me. The engine was revving so high I was afraid something would get damaged.

[dazzlah]

I removed the ignition switch from the steering column. I used a dremel to notch the 2 screws that did not have ntches and was able to take the switch to a mechanic and have them remove the key.

The mechanic offered to sell me a used switch with a master key for $50 but i chose not to go that route. I went to different locksmith to see if they could re-key the switch for me. They were going to charge $60 and take a day to do it but the the smith actually took a closer look at the key I had made at the first losksmith and he wondered if it was made correctly. He checked and found that the other guy's cutter cut the key too high. He cut me another set with the same key code and they worked much better. He charged me $35 for the set of 2... when I asked why his price was so much higher than the other smith that charged $12 his reply was "well, you got a $12 key that didn't work" Good point!

Anyway, went home, reinstalled the ingnition switch and was able to start and stop the car without problems using the new keys. Then, 4 days later I found my 2yr old son in the living room playing with the original set of keys! Apparently he had them stashed someplace where I could not find them. So now I have 4 keys, one set safely in a lockbox in the closet. YES!