[Caparco]

Hey all.. any tips on a stuck ignition key? was working fine for a while, just can't remove it al all anymore, tried all aspects of removel, holding the lock lever down while removing it, even a little help from a screwdriver, just seems somethings gonna break, any one bein through this or know if replacing the ignition is the right thing to do.what exactly is in there holding my key like vice grips!.. thanks for all your input!
Marc
72 Challenger

[rtse4406pack]

caparco,maybe your steering column moved while your key was in the ignition. my friend does not have the lockout system in his car anymore and one time he had the same problem.i turned the steering column just under the steering wheel and the key came out.

[dave-r]

Yes the same happened on a friend of mine's car. It was that thing that sticks out at 90 degrees to the column at the end in the engine bay just where the column enters the engine bay.

I moved that up and his key came out no problem.

[Caparco]

Hey Guys.. always helps to hear from people that have bein through it, it helps alot. On the inside, under dash the column comes through the floor and its all bolted down tight.. i don't see anything at 90* its just a column you can't move about 30* that is attached by 2 bolts just at the bottom end of dash... nothing moves at all untill i get to the Lock release lever just below the key,that locks the steering, i tried turning the wheel in lock position to try and move it around, from the steering wheel or just under it before the key, there is only a small movement and nothing seems to work... from being old, the silver key slot comes out a quarter inch when i tug on the key, looks kinda loose, maybe thats it... or Dave do you think there is a pic of what part your talking about?
Marc

[dave-r]

The bit I was talking about is in the engine bay.

[Jon]

Try rotating the steering column section. The one just under the instrument cluster in the picture. Then the switch should turn back one click and release the key.

[dave-r]

This is the bit I turned to get the key to come out. It is just on the engine bay side of the bulkhead.

[Caparco]

Dave... well done!.. and all others too.. worked like a charm! I love this site and how it helps, all i had to do was turn it a lil bit , key came right out. .. thanks again to all your tips
Marc

[christer]

This is the bit I turned to get the key to come out. It is just on the engine bay side of the bulkhead.

I am experiancing the same problem but thanks to this site, the problem seems to be solved (I have not tried to fix it yet). Question: Can you somehow secure the lever arm (in the engine bay) to prevent this thing from happening again? Thanks!

[fbernard]

Can you somehow secure the lever arm (in the engine bay) to prevent this thing from happening again? Thanks!

Yes, you can keep it in the unlocked position.
Or you can try to find and reinstall the original steering column lockout linkage which was installed at the factory, and links the column to the transmission.
It had a bad reputation back then (for getting stuck easily), which is why it is now removed from most cars.

You can find it on eBay if you search for "1970 Challenger steering column lockout linkage" for example (search for your exact year, I think 1970 differs from later years).

Installed correctly on a collector car which is not used everyday, it should not be a problem.

[christer]

Yes, you can keep it in the unlocked position.
Or you can try to find and reinstall the original steering column lockout linkage which was installed at the factory, and links the column to the transmission.
It had a bad reputation back then (for getting stuck easily), which is why it is now removed from most cars.

There is no linkage on my car and I do not plan to install one. You can live without this item, as I see it.

You can find it on eBay if you search for "1970 Challenger steering column lockout linkage" for example (search for your exact year, I think 1970 differs from later years).

Yes, I have seen them once in a while but I did not knew the differed from year to year. Thanks!