Quality of Intermotor Ignition Key Cylinder

[porkfriedrice]

My 97 Corolla has been giving me a lot of trouble when it comes to the ignition key (hard to insert/remove key), so I ordered a new key cylinder from Rock Auto. It is an Intermotor US194L. I haven't put it in yet. I'm a little concerned with the quality of it. It seems a little flimsy, and the keys that came with it are very light, I think I could bend them in half quite easily with my hands. I don't want to have anymore trouble down the road if I put this thing in. Are the other brands any more sturdy, or should I just say the heck with it and put this one in if they're all the same?

Update: So today I took the old cylinder out to replace it. I am pretty sure I have the wrong part. The new cylinder is considerably shorter than the old one, so I just put everything back together. I am right that this part won't work for me, correct? I am certain that I ordered that part that Rock Auto says will fit. It is a Corolla sedan without tilt steering.





Old cylinder is on the left.

[speedy25]

After problems with dirt/corrosion, wear is the next biggest problem. Usually the key wears the most and wont push the tumblers out enough. I have made my own key to fit properly and usually the door locks all work with the new key. You can also file down the ends of the tumblers that stick out too far so they dont hang up in the cylinder.

Replacement keys- I recently got a key from Ace hardware that stunned me! This key wasnt the usual thin piece that bends when you lock freezes but a nice stout thick "manly" key! If they have these stores in your area, have them cut you a good key.

-SP

[porkfriedrice]

Thanks for the reply. I'm pretty sure that the reason I am having issues is because of the old cylinder, since both mine and the key my wife has give us a lot of trouble when trying to insert/remove the key.

Any insight on the update I posted about the size difference between the new and old cylinders? I'm probably going to return the new one, but I wanted to know for sure that I had the wrong part.

[Dirty Dude]

Well, it's the right part number. I don't know if it's the right part in the box, though. Have you tried to install it to see if it will work?

[porkfriedrice]

I didn't put it in, since I wasn't sure if the size difference would cause damage if I forced it in. I'm going to contact Rock Auto to see what they say.

[porkfriedrice]

So I returned the part to Rock Auto and they sent me a replacement. Guess what? Same thing happened. The part that they sent doesn't match what is in the car. So my question is: Is it possible that my Corolla has an ignition key cylinder in it that is meant for tilt steering even though the car doesn't have a tilt steering wheel? I have looked at other websites (Advance, Napa, Parts Train) and the picture that goes with the cylinder for cars WITH tilt steering looks exactly like what is in my car, while the ones that are for cars WITHOUT tilt look like the parts I have gotten from Rock Auto.
I am thinking of just ordering the cylinder that looks right and taking the chance. It is in stock at the Napa down the street, but it is fifty dollars cheaper from Rock Auto.