• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

crumy story

Share this page

walshja

walshja

Jedi Warrior
Offline
went to a small neighborhood gathering a block down the street, took the Midget.

well, about 9pm the kids start playing in the driveway, so I think it wise to go move the car. I get in the car to discover someone had gotten in my car and tried to start the car, twisting the key off in the cylinder. WOW !!! nobody approached me to tell me what they did, I'm speechless, and feeling real dumb at this point, as I never made a duplicate key when I bought the car, so I am screwed.

then I start thinking how am I going to get the car started and home? I had the 2 pieces of the key, so me and a buddy head to his house, he thinks he might be able to weld them back together. that didn't work. so we thought we could stick the key in, push it in further with a screw driver, and then turn and start, didn't work.

I don't want to call a tow truck, so I keep thinking, then I remembered seeing video on Youtube, from University motors, starting an MG without the key. hopped on my neighbors laptop, found the video within a minute, and literally had my car running 5 minutes later !!

so here is where I need help. anyone document how to replace the ignition switch?
 
Can you just get a key blank.. VB and Moss both sell them. They're small so expedited shipping will not be too bad. The lock shop by my house has the late model blanks.

A good locksmith or key shop should be able to cut you a new key from the remnants of your old key. It may take a few trys but they could probably get it.

That should get the job done faster than a new iggy switch.
 
And while you are at it, get TWO keys cut just for future situations! :wink:
 
Joe-I hope you can get a replacement key that works, or you can just replace the lock and not the entire switch. I had the same thing happen to me. My locksmith made a few copies trying to put the key pieces together, and it wouldn't work. I wound up replacing the entire switch, which was a real pain.

To replace the switch I had to remove not only the steering column surround but the dash so I could get in and drill out the sheer pins. My car is a 74 too, and I ran into a very odd problem. There are two types of switches available, one with bullet connectors, which didn't have enough connections for my car, or a 7 pin multi-port connector. My car's wiring harness has a 5 pin multi-port which is correct. I had to modify the 7 pin type. British Wiring has a 5 port connector with pins. There's two extra wires which for my car I didn't need and capped them off.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that you've got a better skilled locksmith than I did.
 
Just when you think you heard it all! Imagine if the car did start?! I also have seen that video on You Tube with John Twist from Univercity Motors but I recall it being an older car and wasnt sure if the trick would work on the newer midgets. Good luck on that one. I think I would be a bit interested after the car is straightened out to see who may have been the one to try and start your car. For sure sounds like a kid.
 
If you have the lock number, sometimes stamped on the front, or on the key it can be reproduced.

Check for the number and get back to me and I will give you a number to call. Had two made and shiped for $20.


https://www.triple-c.com/Austin_Healey_Keys.cfm
 
OK, so its morning, and I start looking around, and I do have another key, but, the old key is in the lock cylinder, and I have no idea how to get it out

last night I wasn't too [censored] off, today I'm really [censored] off.

any thoughts on how I could get the old key out?
 
With two picks like dental tools??

Or ask at a lock shop. You know they got someway. A special tool??
 
really? you think there is way?

I have been trying with surgical clamps, but there is nothing I can grab onto.

guess driving to a local locksmith wouldn't hurt. do locksmiths still exist?

man, I am so angry
 
sweendog, I don't believe it was any of the kids, they're all decent kids, I'm pretty sure it was a drunk mother, her husband ratted her out and said he saw her in the car. but she denies everything.

I'm just speechless, who would get into someone car, someones CLASSIC car, and mess around?

I didn't even want to go to this picnic, but my wife made me. I am so angry.
 
jhorton3 said:
Joe-I hope you can get a replacement key that works, or you can just replace the lock and not the entire switch. I had the same thing happen to me. My locksmith made a few copies trying to put the key pieces together, and it wouldn't work. I wound up replacing the entire switch, which was a real pain.

To replace the switch I had to remove not only the steering column surround but the dash so I could get in and drill out the sheer pins. My car is a 74 too, and I ran into a very odd problem. There are two types of switches available, one with bullet connectors, which didn't have enough connections for my car, or a 7 pin multi-port connector. My car's wiring harness has a 5 pin multi-port which is correct. I had to modify the 7 pin type. British Wiring has a 5 port connector with pins. There's two extra wires which for my car I didn't need and capped them off.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that you've got a better skilled locksmith than I did.
Click to expand...

I took a look at the steering column, and to get the plastic surround off I need to do as you say and remove the dash, or can I drop the steering column by removing the bracket that holds it up? if I remove the bracket, will the column drop? Does that make sense?

and if I do get that far, I have to drill pins out? this is sounding like a job beyond my abilities.
 
To drop the column there are the bolts under the dash, three bolts around the column that you must undo from the engine compartment, and you need to undo and REMOVE the pinch bolt from the column at the rack pinion.

Then the wheel can be pulled out a bit and hang down a little to get the shroud removed.
 
I had a key break off in a Ford ignition and I got the key stub out using tooth picks (top and bottom to pry with) and a refridgerator magnet to pull with!
 
before getting myself down a path that will only make matters worse, what should I be doing?

am I going to have to remove the steering column to replace the switch?

I sent a couple e-mails to local locksmiths, I will wait to hear from them before doing anything, but if they are not able to extract the key, what are my options?
 
To drop the steering column, if you use a grinder to make slots in the "breakoff" screws you can loosen them with a screwdriver in the slot and replace them with normal bolts. The rest is pretty straight forward.
Be sure to disconnect the battery first- and next time don't leave your keys in the ignition at a party.
(Sorry)
Bill
 
Walshja,
Are you an AA member. If you are, give them a call. Mobile Service.
They may be able to help and free if you are a member.
Allan
 
how about a dab of JB weld on the end of the piece you still have, slide it in and wait 6 hours, pull both parts out? Need to be very careful of course. I did htis when I accidentally pushed a plug down into the dipstick tube, welded the tip of a screw driver onto the thing, pulled it right out a few hours later. Very possible it will destroy the cylinder if you use too much though. Maybe use a small screwdrive instead of the other end of the key? Don't know. Talk to a locksmith first, they might have a simple easy and safe way.
 
I think the locksmith is probably the first choice. They may have a way to get the broken piece out. One thought I had was A TINY BIT of gel (because it's thick and not runny) super glue on the end of a toothpick - presuming you can see the end of the broken key. Touch the end to the broken edge of the key, spray a shot of super glue accelerant - available at most hobby shops, and GENTLY pull on the toothpick.
 
Back
Top