animal
01-05-2006, 09:20 AM
I got stranded in walmart parking lot on dec 23rd at about midnight(yes it was last minute shopping) because my key would not turn in the ignition. I, in fact, thought I was going crazy and even went to check to make sure I was in the right car. It was like I had the completely wrong key. I hoofed it home the 3 miles in the cold and rain to find out its a "common" problem on focuses with the old lock cylinder in the ignition. Turns out I can tap on the key about a dozen or two times with my snow brush and the key will eventually turn. I was able to go back and get the car home that night. I've been doing this every day for the last 2 weeks just to get the car started.
Anyways, browsing a focus forum I found a guy in NC that rebuilds the updated lock cylinder for the 05 focus for your keys and sends it to you for $65. Ford wants about 300 to do the job with the labor and parts if you're out of warranty, and word is from what I've found is they give you new keys too. I'm 600 miles into my extended warranty so getting them to do it would cost me $50 still and the days of waiting for the new part to come in. The $65 was easy to do and I can replace it myself as long as the key will turn to the accessory position. We'll see how it turns out, but I figured I'd just outline it on here that you can tap the key with a screwdriver handle, snowbrush, hammer, or other percussive tool directly into the lock (not on the top or bottom to bend the key, just from the back as if trying to tap the key into the lock further. The guy said from that one focus board alone he does about 8 of those cylinders per week. That's a pretty common problem so if even one of you reads this and saves a tow or some headaches it'd be worth posting. :)
If any of you run into this problem, let me know and I'll get you the contact info for this guy to get the updated lock that doesn't have the problem. Ford, from what I was told replaces it with the old one that it could just happen again.
Anyways, browsing a focus forum I found a guy in NC that rebuilds the updated lock cylinder for the 05 focus for your keys and sends it to you for $65. Ford wants about 300 to do the job with the labor and parts if you're out of warranty, and word is from what I've found is they give you new keys too. I'm 600 miles into my extended warranty so getting them to do it would cost me $50 still and the days of waiting for the new part to come in. The $65 was easy to do and I can replace it myself as long as the key will turn to the accessory position. We'll see how it turns out, but I figured I'd just outline it on here that you can tap the key with a screwdriver handle, snowbrush, hammer, or other percussive tool directly into the lock (not on the top or bottom to bend the key, just from the back as if trying to tap the key into the lock further. The guy said from that one focus board alone he does about 8 of those cylinders per week. That's a pretty common problem so if even one of you reads this and saves a tow or some headaches it'd be worth posting. :)
If any of you run into this problem, let me know and I'll get you the contact info for this guy to get the updated lock that doesn't have the problem. Ford, from what I was told replaces it with the old one that it could just happen again.