98 Avalon - Key stuck, related to electrical problem?

[drh]

UPDATE:

I was able to recreate this problem... I opened the car door, everything looked fine, door light was on. As soon as I stuck the key in the ignition the door light went off and everything was dead (as soon as I stuck it in, didn't even have to turn it). My guess is all the electrical is routed through the ignition cylinder somehow, right? Does anyone have any parts/electrical diagrams of this?

ORIGINAL:


A couple of interesting problems (or maybe just one) we are having...

Sometime last year the key for our 98 Avalon became very difficult to remove. The only way to do so was to push it "up" (towards the roof of the car), while pushing in (like normal).... because we had this workaround we put off getting anyone to look at it for a little bit. But 4-6 weeks later the problem totally stopped. Not the slightest problem whatsoever... I think this was sometime last summer.

Well, yesterday my wife who normally drives the car got in it to come home from work, tried to start it and got nothing -- doesn't turn over, no acc. lights, totally dead. We just had the battery replaced a few months ago. I tell her to see if someone at work can try and jump it otherwise I'll come take a look. When she trys to remove the keys, they are stuck just like they were last year.

The car jumps on the very first try, no problem... she goes to Autozone, battery tests fine. I check with my multimeter to see if the car is drawing any amps while off -- nope looks fine. Car is also starting fine.

She also said that when she got in the car to go to work that morning (before all this) that her radio stations were erased (but key was fine). Seems to indicate some weird electrical problem but I can't figure out how or if it would be related.

Last August we had the alternator replaced at around 140k ... it is possible we had the key problems around this time but I think they had stopped at that point.

I recently replaced a cracked evap. hose and need to replace the vapor pressure sensor but I assume that would have no impact.

[fourwheeler]

sounds like you need to replace the ignition switch

[drh]

Originally Posted by fourwheeler

sounds like you need to replace the ignition switch

Yes, its starting to look like that. When switching the key to the "ACC" it doesn't appear to always engage... is it possible to replace the ignition switch with that assembly mounted on there or will I have to take it off? It is attached to the steering column with shear bolts so I would have to drill them out.