Factory Broken Ignition Switch

[mk2-1jz]

I know this is a common problem in Camrys of this year but I thought I'd ask the question anyway. "can it be fixed" let me explain.

I have an 88 camry and my friend has a 91. Last night me and my friends were messing around and when my buddy unlocked his door my other buddy pushed him out of the way and I slid into his car and locked the doors. So I'm there and I was like wouldnt it be sick if my key started his car? So I took it out, put it in and what do you know it fired right up. I laughed so hard when I saw the look on my friends face as I drove away with him running after me lol.

Both our cars have the same type of ignition problem, they can both be started with butter knives and you can take the keys out while the car is running, is there any way of repairing the ignition cylinder or am I destined to lose my keys if I ever flip it and they slip out of the ignition? I put a little flat piece of metal in my ash tray incase the occasion ever arises and I need to shut the car off.

[atobe]

i wonder about this myself... i would think you can always swap it out with a gen3/4 key or something that doesn't have a chip in it.

[fredk]

go to toyota and buy a new one, uh huh

[WannaBButch]

I just put a new cylinder in mine. If I remember correctly it was 19.00 at autozone. Check around your local parts stores. They aren't expensive.