ignition lock switch help

[stangdriver95]

This is my first post on the forum, and probably my most important. I just snapped the key off in the ignition of my 90 cellica st and can't get the key out or start the car. I've never changed an ignition switch like this before. Can anyone help me with how to take this thing out.. Thanks

[Insanity-74]

I know this might sound like a strange question, but have you tried calling a lock smith out, the kind that does house locks, I snapped a key off in an old car of my`n, called the lock smith out, it took him about 3 seconds to get the broken key out. charghed me £20 the went, saved me the cost of a new ignition switch, and the hastle of having to carry around two sets of car keys.

[stangdriver95]

I called one locksmith he said just replace the cylinder, because he probably couldn't get the pieces out. The car is just my winter car, and the door locks already don't work, I'm thinking about just hammering a screwdriver in there and tryinh to break the cylinder. Any ideas

[Pineapple]

Get another locksmith.
Replacing the cylinder require you to find a key for it too. So junkyard is out of the question and dealer gonna kill you.

[Insanity-74]

Removing the lock is usually pretty simple, i`ve never done it on a Celica but it cant be that different from car to car.......first off you have to remove the plastic housing around it, usually just friction gripped in place but there might be a couple of retaining screws, next up, the lock will be encased in a metal shrowd, on this shrowd there will be a couple of small rtaining bolts/screws, undo these and the lock should be rready ro remove (you might have to waggle the steering wheel around a bit), once out you`ll find about 4 wires coming from the back, not too far from the lock housing will be a conection point for the wires, undo this and the lock should be free, fitting will be the same but in reverse.

that must have been one lazy locksmith you called, they usually jump at the chance to over charge you for things. I agree with pineapple - try another locksmith

before you replace the lock, try tapping the old one on the groung to see if the key falls out. there will be a code on the lock to enable you to get a new key cut if you have no spare!

A new dealer ignition lock is gonna cost you at least £90 ($160) thats how much I payed 8 years ago