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Is anyone knowledgeable about the ignition switch? I am in a bit of a jam...
For starters, the ignition switch recall has been done. I was occasionally getting a ding/chime with the key removed and the door open (like when it chimes to let you know the key is still in the ignition, but it would do it with the key removed). I replaced the electrical part of the ignition switch and that did not help any. I finally figured out that the plunger in the end of the ignition housing (the piece that goes into the electrical part) was not always retracting when you pull the key out, so the car thought the key was still in the ignition and would ding when you open the door.
With the electrical switch removed I was able to push the plunger in by hand fairly easily, but it just won't go back in by itself. I tried spraying some lube on the shaft and working it back and forth, but that didn't seem to help. So I figured I would remove the key/lock cylinder end and see if anything is binding and spray some lube in that end. The key always worked fine prior to this, but as I was removing the cylinder a small piece fell out and I didn't see where it was before it fell out. After looking it over I still couldn't see where the piece went. I lubed up the cylinder and cylinder end of the housing and put it back in to see if that made any difference, and now the cylinder will not move. The key will not turn it at all and the cylinder seems to be jammed in the off position, so I can't turn on the car and I can no longer get the cylinder to the run position to remove the cylinder again.
So long story short instead of just dealing with an occasional chime sound with the door open my car is now totally disabled and I have no idea how to even get it back apart to fix it. Any ideas?
Here is the piece that fell out when I removed the lock cylinder: