Key Difficult to Turn When It's Cold!

[HammerDown]

Anyone else having the 'difficult to turn ignition key syndrome' when it's frigid outside?
Few years back the dreaded 'pot metal actuator' broke and I replaced it, luckily I had one instock and ready to install.

Thought I cleaned out the old dry grease pretty good and I lightly re-lubed the moving parts with some white grease but damn, when it's very cold, once again the key has been difficult to turn.

Hate for that cheap 'pot-metal actuator' to break again (of which I forgot the Ford part number) I need to get another one instock.

 

[jas88]

I have only experienced this right before the actuator breaks. Try setting the tilt wheel straight before you turn the key and see if that helps.

 

[vegas39]

Mine has done that a couple times in the past, I shoot some lube down in there from the top and it seems to cure it for a long time.
Although I like to leave things as factory as possible, having a pushbutton starter seems like a good idea to avoid the hard pressure that gets put on that rod during cranking.

May also want to make sure the actual switch itself down at the bottom of the column, isnt going bad.

 

[HammerDown]

Thanks for the feedback.
Tilt wheel is always straight.
What could I spray (WD40)?
And should I pull the steering wheel off to do so?

 

[franklin2]

WD40 is what I use. Get some rags and put under the steering column, and then flood it through the keyhole. It will run through and drip out the column, but the wd40 will help loosen up any old grease in the crevices that you did get out before. Spray it, and then work it back and forth, and the spray it again till it starts loosening up. The biggest thing you have to watch out for when the key gets stiff is make sure it comes back to the run position after you crank the truck. It can come back half-way and then your wipers don't work and other mysterious little gremlins pop up because the keyswitch is not back in the proper position.

 

[freebird01]

the column i just rebuilt i lubed it with a dupont teflon spray.... -2 and it still turns very nice. it goes on liquid like wd40 but drys to a thin film.

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[79jasper]

In my experience, white lithium grease is junk when it comes to winter time.

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[vegas39]

WD40 is what I use. Get some rags and put under the steering column, and then flood it through the keyhole. It will run through and drip out the column, but the wd40 will help loosen up any old grease in the crevices that you did get out before. Spray it, and then work it back and forth, and the spray it again till it starts loosening up. The biggest thing you have to watch out for when the key gets stiff is make sure it comes back to the run position after you crank the truck. It can come back half-way and then your wipers don't work and other mysterious little gremlins pop up because the keyswitch is not back in the proper position.

My 86 sometimes sticks on start on a very cold day, gotta make sure you turn it back a hair to keep the starter from running on. My 89 sticks on start on a very hot day. Crazy damn trucks! I did however replace the lower switch assembly on my 89 a couple weeks ago while I had the pedal assembly and steering column out.
I did a push button conversion on both of my Bil's trucks, probably gonna do the same to mine.

 

[idi_econoline]

In my experience, white lithium grease is junk when it comes to winter time.

Also junk in another situation: Whatever ya do, don't put graphite into a lock mechanism that has white lithium in it.

One of my low-points of 2013. Here's to a better year in 2014!

 

[freebird01]

dont ever lube a column with anti seize.... just had to replace the column in my truck due to a PO using anti seize on everything. it gummed it up so bad it stripped both gears in behind the tumbler

 

[franklin2]

dont ever lube a column with anti seize.... just had to replace the column in my truck due to a PO using anti seize on everything. it gummed it up so bad it stripped both gears in behind the tumbler

Same with the 4x4 hubs. People put grease in the hub, and then they can't get the hub to unlock in cold weather. That spring in there is too weak and can't overcome the thick grease when it gets cold.

And I am sure most our trucks have a noisy speedo during this cold snap. Same thing, the factory grease gets old and thick, and makes the speedo cable noisy in cold weather. WD40 seems to help that also. It's not a very good lube, but seems to do a good job rejuvenating and loosening the old factory grease.

 

[ZWilson07]

Yeah so what would you all recommend for things like speedo cable, 4x4 hubs, column parts, door locks, etc?

 

[HammerDown]

One good thing about WD40 (and there's actually many) it's not a conductor of electricity.

 

[ZWilson07]

Yeah so what would you all recommend for things like speedo cable, 4x4 hubs, column parts, door locks, etc?

Anyone got some recommendations for this?

Thanks

 

[Oog]

One good thing about WD40 (and there's actually many) it's not a conductor of electricity.

********, I fried an alternator spraying it with wd40