Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic

My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
have become a permanent condition.

I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
twisting the key - no dice.

Any experience with such a problem?

Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer

mor...@thedef.org wrote:
> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer

mor...@thedef.org wrote:
> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer

mor...@thedef.org wrote:
> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer

mor...@thedef.org wrote:
> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Not grease. Graphite lock lubricant. If that doesn't help, you'll need a new
switch.

Carl


"The Merg" <greg.mergner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169002959.951404.279340@l53g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> mor...@thedef.org wrote:
>> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
>> have become a permanent condition.
>>
>> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
>> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
>> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
>> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
>> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
>> twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>> Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Not grease. Graphite lock lubricant. If that doesn't help, you'll need a new
switch.

Carl


"The Merg" <greg.mergner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169002959.951404.279340@l53g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> mor...@thedef.org wrote:
>> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
>> have become a permanent condition.
>>
>> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
>> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
>> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
>> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
>> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
>> twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>> Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Not grease. Graphite lock lubricant. If that doesn't help, you'll need a new
switch.

Carl


"The Merg" <greg.mergner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169002959.951404.279340@l53g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> mor...@thedef.org wrote:
>> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
>> have become a permanent condition.
>>
>> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
>> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
>> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
>> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
>> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
>> twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>> Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Not grease. Graphite lock lubricant. If that doesn't help, you'll need a new
switch.

Carl


"The Merg" <greg.mergner@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1169002959.951404.279340@l53g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> mor...@thedef.org wrote:
>> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
>> have become a permanent condition.
>>
>> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
>> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
>> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
>> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
>> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
>> twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>> Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Try some WD-40, that might soften the old grease and lube the lock
enough to turn. If that works I'd them put a small amount of white
lithium grease on the key and work it in and out of the lock a few times.

You may also have a worn key and/or lock. If the key is worn you might
try another key or even go to the dealer and get a new one made.

If worse comes to worse there is always a locksmith.

Jeff DeWitt

The Merg wrote:
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> mor...@thedef.org wrote:
>
>>2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>>My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>>that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
>>have become a permanent condition.
>>
>>I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
>>the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
>>logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
>>colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
>>blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
>>twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>>Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>>Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>
>