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)
>
>

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)
>
>

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)
>
>

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

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)

Are the wheels up against the lock? If so, turn the wheel a bit while your
trying to turn the key.

--
DougW

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

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)

Are the wheels up against the lock? If so, turn the wheel a bit while your
trying to turn the key.

--
DougW

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

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)

Are the wheels up against the lock? If so, turn the wheel a bit while your
trying to turn the key.

--
DougW

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

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)

Are the wheels up against the lock? If so, turn the wheel a bit while your
trying to turn the key.

--
DougW

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Does your Cherokee have an interlock that requires the shifter to be in
Park and the brake pedal to be depressed? Both my `89 and my `96 had them
and if it got out of whack you couldn't turn the key.

Or, the lock assembly itself could be bad.


On Tue, 16 Jan 2007, morgan@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)
>
>

--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Does your Cherokee have an interlock that requires the shifter to be in
Park and the brake pedal to be depressed? Both my `89 and my `96 had them
and if it got out of whack you couldn't turn the key.

Or, the lock assembly itself could be bad.


On Tue, 16 Jan 2007, morgan@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)
>
>

--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.

Re: Ignition Switch Won't Turn
 

Does your Cherokee have an interlock that requires the shifter to be in
Park and the brake pedal to be depressed? Both my `89 and my `96 had them
and if it got out of whack you couldn't turn the key.

Or, the lock assembly itself could be bad.


On Tue, 16 Jan 2007, morgan@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)
>
>

--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.