I had the same problem on a 1993 Taurus. The problem for me was the linkage that connects the ignition cylinder to the ignition switch. The linkage is two pieces of plastic connected by a metal pin (The reason for the two pieces is the tilt steering). Well as the plastic gets old, the metal pin falls out. You need to replace that piece of plastic. Unfortunately, it is a challenging job to take care of it. You will end up removing the sterering column from the car in order to replace it. In a nutshell, here are the steps.
Remove the steering wheel (please take the appropriate precautions with the airbag)
Remove the ignition cylinder
Remove all of the plastic surrounding the steering column
Disconnect all of the electical connections to the steering column
Remove the bracing support under the steering column
Remove the steering column
Remove the top part of the steering column from the main part (The part that tilts)
You should now see the white plastic actuator. The top part if inside the column above the ignition cylinder and is moved by the gear on the end of the cylinder. Anyway, remove it and replace it.
Put everything back together.
It will take a couple iterations of positioning the actuator to get it and the ignition cylinder in the right spot.
The part you have to replace costs about 15 dollars. It took me about 8 hours to complete the job. Part of that is because I got hung up on removing the top part of the steering column. I wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do. Also, I had to take it back apart again because I let the steering column rotate to 180 degrees off which caused the steering column lock to not disengage when the key was turned.
Ok,if you pull the cover off the steering column,you will see the electrical part of the ignition,it is the part the key cylinder is inserted in and the wires run down to a connector about halfway down the steering column.Just replace that piece and all should be fine.
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Yes the car will stay running and to shut it off I have to pull the coil wire under my hood and undo the batterie everytime I want to turn it on and off now. Now my ignition switch goes back all the way but it just will not shut my car off, like it ignore's that there is a shut of switch. It is wierd. And I do not want to go outrageous by spending money on something I don't even need. I have pushed on the steering column while trying to shut it off, but still nothing, I have no Idea what is wrong with it.
It was just the ignition. It costed me like 20 bucks at auto zone. But with the old ignition switch it turned like all the way around, but when we put the new one in, it acted like a normal switch, only when you went to turn it back to shut the car off, it did not make no click as to what a regular car would? I hope you know what I mean, I am not good at explainging these thing's I do not know much about car's what so ever.!!
Okay sounds good. thanks alot for the help!!
Thank you, I thought for sure I was never going to find another solution. I am a girl with no thought's about how to do any of this but thank you and i will find someone to do it for me.. ha.
my 96 ford windstar has a problem that when i turn the engine off, the keylock mechanism freely spins back, but the engine does not turn off. unfortunately, since i have engine problems as well, the engine quits after a few minutes. anyway, i bought a new ignition lock mechanism and installed it tonight, but it still will not turn off. it will start fine, but does not turn off, its like it is always stuck on run. Can anyone help with this?
I also keep getting trouble code 1538 and 0171 - i have replaced, the fuel filter, Throttle position sensor, all the o2 sensors, the Mass Air Flow Sensor, the Idle Air Control Valve, The coil pack, spark plug wires, spark plugs (i was also getting misfire codes on cylinders 4 and 2 - changing the coil pack, wires, plugs seemed to have fixed this.)
Plus I keep finding some oil inside the rubber boot that covers the opening to the Plenum between the Mass Air Flow Sensor and the Intake. It will run better for a little while when i clean this out) Oh, and i replaced the PCV. Any Suggestions anyone as I have reached my ropes end with this POS!
my key turns backwards 360 degrees and wont shut off. if turned forward it cranks so seems like it would start. ive disconnected the battery. from what ive read sounds like ignition switch but someone on this site said the had same problem and it wasnt the switch but a white plastic piece somewhere in the steering column...? any help?
When you replaced the the ignition,was it just the cylinder or was the electrical part replaced as well?
Do you mean you the car stays running/
The ignition will not turn far enough to remove the key/
Or something else?
Also,This maybe a stupid question,But have you pushed the button on the steering column while turning the key to off?
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