I'm pretty sure I am not the only one who's had their car broken into.

Anyway over Easter, while with family, some punk kids decided there would be no better way to celebrate than by breaking into my car, and half ***-edly trying to jam a bunch of random keys into the ignition to see if they could drive away. They failed but left me with a jacked up ignition lock. I just want to know how to change it. I read that if I can get the key to the first ignition setting, it should be a walk in the park. Obviously I have the worst luck and can't seem to move the key at all. I've asked around and people told me I have to drill it out. I just wanted to double check before I start doing things I should not. And if I do have to drill, where do I drill?

Thanks a bunch....

 

You are basically asking how to steal a car on April Fools Day. j/s lol

i would try to remove the ignition switch without disengaging the steering wheel lock. all the vehicles i have done the lock just sort of moved out of the way when i removed the fasteners(difficult part).

If you do attempt the method above and have trouble with the lock, i would suggest using different size screwdrivers (smaller to larger if necessary) instead of a drill. directly into the ignition(key slot). a few gentle taps from a hammer should work - just keep trying to turn screwdriver and wheel.

also, this unit should be soldered, no splices. keep note of connections, pictures/schematic, or do them one wire at a time. disconnect battery ofc

Good luck

 

Haha I just realized I did haha.

The ignition switch is fine, and all the wires are fine. I don't want to go through the hassle of removing all of the switch if I just need to replace the lock.

I'll keep your method in mind but I'm going to see if I can do some research before I Try your way

Thanks though

 

In my case, they broke the steering wheel lock. The ignition switch was removed but otherwise OK.
The junkyard only sold the entire assembly with the steering lock, ignition switch and key cylinder (basically everything attached to the steering column). I replaced the switch because I had a new one laying around that I never got around to installing. I was able to remove my original key cylinder so I could keep the same key.

The entire assembly is clamped to the steering column with shear bolts. The heads of the bolts shear off when it is tightened. You have to drill the shear bolts out to get the assembly off for replacement.

 

Please describe exactly how it is jacked up? I can't imagine that they actually somehow broke any internal parts of your lock. if your key goes in, i'd use some graphite to loosen any "stuck" pins..maybe rake the pins a little to unstick them. if your key won't go in, i'd use a paperclip to dig out anything they broke off in there.