Key Difficult to Turn When It's Cold!

[jas88]

I use red wheel bearing grease on all these things y'all are talking about, but I live in Texas.

 

[HammerDown]

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

Interesting, because when sprayed into distributor caps it doesn't cause misfires or havoc.
I've also sprayed it into all kinds of electrical connections (ac/dc/) without ever a problem.

At any rate...
I flooded the ignition key slot and with the key in, rotated the switch back and forth from 'acc to on"

I'm thinking...the problem/stiffness is mostly when I turn the key to "start".
So, maybe the problem is the actual rod going into and into the switch down on the steering column???
Not sure if I can get WD40 in that...but I'll be checking!

 

[hotshotidi]

Use graphite lube an old mechanic boss told me always worked

 

[Coyote_Red]

I would be willing to bet that your problem isn't the rod going to the switch but the actual switch. I had a truck with a hard to turn key and i dropped the column and tapped on the block that the rod connects to by the wheel with a hammer and it broke free and turned just fine.

 

[freebird01]

Ya know I didnt think of that...when I had my column apart I had to recrimp the tabs that hold the switch together on mine

 

[Greg5OH]

mien is so difficult to turn i sometimes have to use two hands! -10 F ehre

 

[PwrSmoke]

My truck's been doing that for about 15 of the 27 years I've owned it. Never tried anything to fix it (lazy dog that I am, I guess). I had to start the truck a coupla days ago at -17F and, yeah, it was stiff.

 

[HammerDown]

Even though only a few years I replaced a busted actuator...I just picked-up a spare at Ford.

 

[HammerDown]

BTW...while messing around with my turn signal cam...I sprayed WD40 all in the column and also got a few shots in the actual lower mounted switch.
Result > > >the ignition key turns like butter!

 

[racin460]

iv always found that the white lithium grease in the actual electrical switch on the side of the column gets so sticky when cold. that over the winter it will spread the aluminum tabs that hold it together and it pops apart. most spring I have to put it back together. wd40 drys to quick so get a good lube and spray inside the electrical switch so help soften the white lithium up.