ignition switch broke?

[rbiasca]

'97 4runner, got in it one day, put the key in and tried to turn it, and its stuck. fiddled with it a little while and got it to turn to the run position, but it wont turn to the start position. Please help, its sitting in the grocery store parking lot. is this just the switch itslelf or is there some kind of interlock or something to malfunction?

[kball]

I would try some dry graphite lube first. Then get a new key made off the old one or a fresh one made from a blank and the VIN. If that doesn't work you may have to replace the cylinder. Are you sure it's not that the steering is turned and locking it up? You can try jiggling the steering wheel as you try to turn the key.

[jetwhine]

rbiasca,

Once it starts giving you trouble it is just a matter of time before it fails all together. So you might want to start saving for a new key switch cylinder as kball indicated. I had a sienna do the same thing and I tried to nurse it but it did not take long before it went south. You just don't want to get stuck somewhere and have to walk thats not good.

[rbiasca]

it was getting finicky for a while, then it just quit working alltogether. got stuck at a shopping center. normally this would be something i would try to fix myself, but my wife is pregnant and sick and i have been working a ton of overtime. so i had it towed to a shop. its kind of a wierd feeling having someone else work on my rig for me!

[jetwhine]

rbiasca,

You know, there are times when you have to do that. Making sure that your wife is driving a reliable rig is more important too me (if she is driving that one). Getting stuck anywhere other than home is not fun.

[4runnerluv]

Mine went bad and I got a replacement on Ebay for around $60. Easy to replace. It has a pin that locks it into place, push to the unlock position put the old key in and pull it out. Reverse for new one.