Ignition Switch Won't Turn

2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic

My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
have become a permanent condition.

I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
twisting the key - no dice.

Any experience with such a problem?

Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer

wrote:
> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Not grease. Graphite lock lubricant. If that doesn't help, you'll need a new
switch.

Carl


"The Merg" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> wrote:
>> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
>> have become a permanent condition.
>>
>> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
>> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
>> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
>> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
>> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
>> twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>> Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>

Try some WD-40, that might soften the old grease and lube the lock
enough to turn. If that works I'd them put a small amount of white
lithium grease on the key and work it in and out of the lock a few times.

You may also have a worn key and/or lock. If the key is worn you might
try another key or even go to the dealer and get a new one made.

If worse comes to worse there is always a locksmith.

Jeff DeWitt

The Merg wrote:
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> wrote:
>
>>2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>>My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>>that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
>>have become a permanent condition.
>>
>>I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
>>the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
>>logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
>>colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
>>blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
>>twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>>Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>>Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>
>

The Merg wrote:
> Try blasting it with grease instead of a hair dryer
>
> wrote:
>> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>>
>> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
>> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems
>> to have become a permanent condition.
>>
>> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was
>> because the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden.
>> This seemed logical at first since the problem seems to occur more
>> during the colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the
>> steering column and blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours
>> while jiggling and twisting the key - no dice.
>>
>> Any experience with such a problem?
>>
>> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

Are the wheels up against the lock? If so, turn the wheel a bit while your
trying to turn the key.

--
DougW

Does your Cherokee have an interlock that requires the shifter to be in
Park and the brake pedal to be depressed? Both my `89 and my `96 had them
and if it got out of whack you couldn't turn the key.

Or, the lock assembly itself could be bad.


On Tue, 16 Jan 2007, wrote:
>
> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)
>
>

--
"I defer to your plainly more vivid memories of topless women with
whips....r"
R. H. Draney recalls AFU in the Good Old Days.

Hi Doug,
Yes, my wife repeatedly turns the wheel a half turn into the curb, then
kills the engine, then wonder why she's not strong enough to turn the
steering wheel off the lock.
God Bless America, Bill 0|||||||0
http://www.billhughes.com/

"DougW" > wrote in message
...
>
> Are the wheels up against the lock? If so, turn the wheel a bit while
your
> trying to turn the key.
>
> --
> DougW

Hi Doug,
Yes, my wife repeatedly turns the wheel a half turn into the curb, then
kills the engine, then wonder why she's not strong enough to turn the
steering wheel off the lock.
God Bless America, Bill 0|||||||0
http://www.billhughes.com/

"DougW" > wrote in message
...
>
> Are the wheels up against the lock? If so, turn the wheel a bit while
your
> trying to turn the key.
>
> --
> DougW

This is a very common problem in Jeep Grand Cherokee 2000 model,
ignitiiton key won't turn esp. during cold winter days also the CD
cartridge in extreme cold or hot weather. I did bring up this issue
with Chrysler and asked them to do a recall they think its not a major
problem and there is no need to do a recall, they did initially offered
to look into my jeep, now they say its not under warranty anymore. I
tried a different approach by threating them that I will take the story
to media like 60 minutes (CBS).

The temporary solution which works everytime for me is, I have a metal
hammer very small weighs less that 5 ounces came with a complimentary
tool kit with some purchases during father's day sale. I keep this
hammer permanently in the glove compartment, its worth a million $$$
now .

If not a very small hammer use something very light, try tapping on the
key, very gently and lightly while trying to turn the key. This trick
worked for me everytime. I got this solution from the net. Be careful,
do not hit the key hard as you don't want the key to break and stay
stuck in the ignition lock cylinder.

Give it a try and see if it helps you.

Good luck



wrote:
> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)

might be too late but the key cylinders fail all the time on the chrysler
products very same complaint
careful were it goes for repair the column does not have to be replaced
unless they break it and they can pay for it there is a way to get out with
out busting column

wrote:

> 2000 Jeep Cherokee Classic
>
> My ignition switch won't turn. This has been an intermittent problem
> that would be cured with a few jiggles and twists, but now it seems to
> have become a permanent condition.
>
> I mentioned it to a Jeep body shop guy and he said that it was because
> the cold weather caused the grease in the lock to harden. This seemed
> logical at first since the problem seems to occur more during the
> colder months, BUT I just took the cover off of the steering column and
> blasted the lock with a hair dryer for two hours while jiggling and
> twisting the key - no dice.
>
> Any experience with such a problem?
>
> Please help...I'm stuck in my driveway! (fortunately)