ignition lock cylinder?????

[Andrew T]

I have a 93 XJ, and I think my ignition cylinder is going out. I can sometimes barely turn the key, and almost every time I have to struggle to get it out of the ignition when I turn the thing off. Also, my radio and AC don't always come on, like all the electrical is dead still from tuning the key to the start position. If you wiggle the key a little, though, it'll all come on. I called the stealership and they said $35 for a new ign. lock cylinder, plus about $20-25 to key it. Does that sound reasonable and like it would fix my problem?
Thanks in advance...
Andrew

[Jeff in VA]

Sounds reasonabale, but you can buy replacement cylinders from any of the parts stores (Advance, Autozone,etc...) for @10.00 and replace it yourself. You do, however, need a steering wheel puller, and a lockplate removal tool to do the job without alot of hassles, and that'll run you about another $15-20 for both tools. Basically, you remove the steering wheel with the puller, and then the lockplate snap-ring using the lockplate tool to depress the plate so you can pull off the ring. Once that is removed, pull off the lockplate and spring, and there is one bolt that you remove and the cylinder pulls out of the column. A Haynes or Chilton's manual might come in handy, but the directions that come with the new cylinder are fairly adequate...there are additional steps to take if you have an airbag, if you have one. Hopefully someone who does can add to this....(I don't and am not sure)
HTH,
Jeff

[2xtreme]

I replaced the ing cylinder on my 89 and it was $10. I had a puller that worked for the steering wheel and I got around useing the lockplate snap ring with standard plyers and screwdriver.

The first time the job took about 45 min start to finish. I had to do it again about a week later and it took less than 15 minutes.

I should have done it a long time ago, well worth it to have two keys that now both work!!

Michael

[MACH90XJ]

[QUOTE] I called the stealership and they said $35 for a new ign. lock cylinder, plus about $20-25 to key it.[QUOTE]

$20-25 To key it? My new cylinder came with 2 new keys.Stealership,might as well mean armed robber.


If you can follow manuals directions, its really not that tough.