Key stuck in Ignition, 1999 Ford Escort (fuel, brake, best, engine)

[TheViking85]

Anyone got any good tips on how to get the key out?

Basically it'll turn to ACC, but not Lock. Car starts and runs and all that, but the key won't come out.

This is my fiancés car, and it's a bit of a problem since she's going to be overseas for 3 weeks (visiting me) and leaves Saturday.

She only has the one key, and for obvious reasons, aren't too keen on leaving it alone for 3 weeks with the key stuck in the ignition and the door open. (Even if she slams the door shut, it's stupidly easy to open)

Anyone have any great tips on how to get the key out so she can lock the doors and not have the car stolen?

Oh and it's a Manual, not Automatic.

[JRTurner]

You've already tried rotating the steering wheel left and right while attempting to turn the key to the LOCK position?

[Gimme3steps]

Don't know of any shortcuts or tips.

If you can't get the key out, you can at least take the battery out. That would stop anyone who didn't bring their own battery.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by TheViking85

Anyone got any good tips on how to get the key out?

Basically it'll turn to ACC, but not Lock. Car starts and runs and all that, but the key won't come out.

This is my fiancés car, and it's a bit of a problem since she's going to be overseas for 3 weeks (visiting me) and leaves Saturday.

She only has the one key, and for obvious reasons, aren't too keen on leaving it alone for 3 weeks with the key stuck in the ignition and the door open. (Even if she slams the door shut, it's stupidly easy to open)

Anyone have any great tips on how to get the key out so she can lock the doors and not have the car stolen?

Oh and it's a Manual, not Automatic.

Unless I'm mistaken, this is a very common problem with the Fords of that vintage. My daughter's Focus did the same thing.

My best advice is to call a locksmith.

[smokingGun]

Don't some cars from the 90's have a button on the steering column you depress to set the ignition to Lock & remove the key? I thought my friend's Altima had something weird like that. Also maybe start the car up & turn it off while depressing the foot brake? If all else fails it's probably a bad ignition cylinder lock that needs to be changed out, but definitely disconnect the battery!

[us66]

An 86 Escort I had had that button underneath the steering column; I HAD to push that in to remove the key. If there is not one visible, there might be one underneath a plastic cover underneath the keyhole. (I have logged a lot of time in a 98 but can't remember if there is a cover underneath the keyhole.) If there is, there would likely be a button in there. I remember reading recently that Cobalts and HHRs have a major problem with this and there is a key removal button under that cover.

[GTOlover]

Ask your mechanic, he would know better. But, there is a pin near your gear selector that is engaged when you are in any drive gear, park or neutral, as well as when your key is in the running position, start position etc, that is not functioning properly. The pin is in a state of "feeling" like you are still in any one of those positions and you obviously know that you can't pull your key out of the ignition while your car is running anyway. So this pin has your key locked in the ignition because it thinks your car is still running.

[TheViking85]

Originally Posted by JRTurner

You've already tried rotating the steering wheel left and right while attempting to turn the key to the LOCK position?

Yup tried everything to that nature.

Originally Posted by Omaha Rocks

Unless I'm mistaken, this is a very common problem with the Fords of that vintage. My daughter's Focus did the same thing.

My best advice is to call a locksmith.

That's true, I researched it, but figured I'd ask if anyone knew any tricks we hadn't tried yet.

A friend of hers did eventually get the key out by, I kid you not, hitting it with a hammer.

Thanks for all the tips though, I appreciate it.

[jtur88]

I once spent a couple of weeks doing vacation relief for a one-man rent-a-car desk at a remote airport. I spent most of my time crawling around on the floors of cars searching for the hidden button that has to be depressed to get the key out.

There is probably a pdf copy of the owner's manual on line.

Don't forget that there is another hidden button in Fords, that will re-enable the fuel line connection in the event your hit a really bad pothole and the car thinks it has been in an accident and shuts off the fuel, to keep it from doing it's Pinto fireball impressions.. Sometimes this button is under the floormat in the trunk, sometimes it is under the back seat, it all depends on where the diabolical Ford engineers decided to hide it on your particular model. It's probably in a different place for cars in Canada, so check there, too.

[Deez Nuttz]

Tumbler is probably broken. Happened to me once. Ended up having to replace the tumbler.