2001 ford focus zx3 go to store park come back out key wont turn in the ignition
Call tow truck to come they are nice enough to tell me that its really common and to take the key of key chain put it in ignition and with the palm of your hand hit the key once hard and it worked great got home tried to turn on again did not took one hour of messing worth it to go went straight to ford to fix and they act like what a unusual problem little did I know a women was waiting to get her focus back for the same thing lucky it wasn't expensive but it was very annoying!
So today I was running an errand for work, and after running the errand, I found that I was stuck in the parking lot of the bank. MY IGNITION WOULDN'T turn! It happened to me previously ( about a month ago), but I was able to get it to turn by crankin on it. I thought for some reason, that there was moisture in the ignition and it was froze...But I knew that wasn't the problem today...I tried every trick I was able to find on Yahoo...the Hammer trick, remote access trick, and just plain ol' crankin on the damn thing. None works..Guess I'll have to get towed and get the damn thing replaced...Pain in the Ass, now I have no car...
It's not a small, "a couple of people have this issue" problem. It's massive and nationwide. Just search "Ford Focus Ignition Problems" on Google.
I felt my ignition starting to go bad and took care of it before it could. Got the CORRECT ignition brand and model replacement via mail order, and honestly? The process was VERY easy. Took 15 minutes total. This only works if the ignition hasn't totally frozen yet tho'.
Here's the site with comprehensive info and the mail order replacement service:
http://www.sandiegolockandsafe.com/fordfocus.html
They use the proper ignition part for the vehicle, and explain the problem very well. I ahve to say I was pretty glad I took care of this before it froze completely. Easy install, no problems since.
This has happened to me twice. Currently my key is stuck in the ignition for the second time!! I refuse to replace. Fortunately, the ignition isn't locked. It will start and drive fine, but the key is stuck. It has been this way for several years now... The first time it happened the ignition locked up and I had to have it towed. The whole ignition had to be replaced and cost me around $500 dollars!!!
this is the second time this has happen to me. first time was about 2 years ago. and now i just went to start my car and the key won't turn. i had to call my mom to pick up my son from daycare. ... and last year i had to replace the entire engine. apparently the was a hole in the engine block, which caused one of the cylinders to mess up. I don't know. all i know is that i really freaking hate this car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Amanda K.,
Bakersfield, CA, US
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So My wife went to work and after her 12 Hour shift came out to start her car and the key won't turn. So I go to pick her up and I can't get it to turn either. So her car has sat at her job site for a week now. And is still there. Apparently this ignition thing is an epidemic with the focus. They Want 90.00 just to look at it. But from reading on this site and many others, it's apparent whats wrong with it. So I guess ford wants about 700.00 from me to replace a part that should be recalled. I guess ford really does stand for found on road dead.
spray a lot of wd-40 in the key hole. with the handle of a screwdriver hit a couple of times on the metal part NOT ON YOUR KEY............... IT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE SWITCH. then take your key and put it in and out a lots of times. wipe it each 3-4 times it went in.
this should saves you at least the towing if you don't want the fix it yourself in a permanent way.
Unscrew 3 hex-nuts under the steering column. with a small flat head screwdriver push in the 2 clips on the upper half to make it pop up. now you have almost clear access to the barillet. look for a hole almost on top of it, with the key to accessories push in that hole to take out the locking mechanism, then spray a lot of wd-40 inside the barillet and clean it with a towel, you should see small metal particles on the towel........... thats what causing the problem
Ford should recall the ignition lock cylinders (ILC). A Ford service person started quoting hundreds of dollars in repairs before seeing the car. I've seen hundreds of other complaints about this very problem online and I can't believe nothing has been done. Not a safety issue?! What if I had been out in the sticks and turned off my car? Then what? Starvation? Hypothermia? or worse? In my case, I got stranded at home with no way to get to work to earn money (which happens to all be going into this POS right now). Furthermore, I recently had to replace the brakes a week earlier which took a $780 bite in my budget. Why does Ford insist on using crappy parts in their cars. Just another high cost of low prices I guess.
I bought this car used with very low mileage from an older woman who did not drive it much. It has been nothing but a headache. Last night I tried to turn the car on and apparently the ignition cylinder was broken -- a common problem with the Ford Focus! I called a locksmith out who said he has seen it hundreds of times, even my mechanic has seen it numerous times... within the last few weeks it is so common!
My airbag lights flashes for no reason sometimes, and my suspension is also knocking when I make right hand turns.... and now this! I could not even turn my car on! My mechanic is now working on it, replacing the key ignition cylinder. This car should be labeled a lemon!!
what the #&*% its like a 16000 dollar car my wife drives it to and from work when it is not giving her problems......... i still havent had it fixed so far it makes a decent lawn ornament cause i only parked it for a minute to run in the house and when i returned ................ instant lawn ornament and this among the various other inconveniences dealing with this car... if i did not have another car then she would never make it the 30 miles to and from work..........................
My steering wheel is locked and cannot turn, plus the key would not turn in the ignition. After three days of jiggling the wheel, and to no avail called the dealership. Had car towed, replaced ignition, and cost me a pretty penny for both.... ridiculous!!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2001 ford focus zx3 go to store park come back out key wont turn in the ignition
Call tow truck to come they are nice enough to tell me that its really common and to take the key of key chain put it in ignition and with the palm of your hand hit the key once hard and it worked great got home tried to turn on again did not took one hour of messing worth it to go went straight to ford to fix and they act like what a unusual problem little did I know a women was waiting to get her focus back for the same thing lucky it wasn't expensive but it was very annoying!
- Hector S., South Haven, MI, US