Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hello members,

My Toyota 4-runner ignition key is hard to turn, its been lubricated but it does not last, any ideas?


Chris...

Whats it been lubricated with? I hope oil wasnt used. Try powdered graphite.

If you've got another key other than one you usually use then try it and see if it feels any different, It may be that the key is worn.
It could also be the ignition switch itself, not the key barrell. When you say hard to turn do you mean you require extra force to rotate the key through any position or is it stiff at one point but once past that it is easier to rotate?

give it a spray with silicon spray or wd40

When you say "hard to turn" do you have to jiggle it from the off/locked position or the actual turning of the key.


BJ

icrawl wrote:give it a spray with silicon spray or wd40

Don't give it a spray with WD40 or silicone. Wet lubricants attract dirt and grit and will cause it to become worse than it was. Wet lubricants also tend to 'wash' the barrell. As the barrell wears very fine particals of the cast alloy the housing is made form actually acts as a lubricant, similar to graphite powder. When this is washed away your barrell wears faster.
Dan

Ruffy wrote:

icrawl wrote:give it a spray with silicon spray or wd40

Don't give it a spray with WD40 or silicone. Wet lubricants attract dirt and grit and will cause it to become worse than it was. Wet lubricants also tend to 'wash' the barrell. As the barrell wears very fine particals of the cast alloy the housing is made form actually acts as a lubricant, similar to graphite powder. When this is washed away your barrell wears faster.
Dan

I'm not convinced that silicon is a 'wet' lubricant - I find that not much sticks to it. Its great stuff for all sorts of things.