How to remove ignition lock cylinder, '94 Geo Metro

: The key broke off in the ignition lock of our '94 Metro. Can anyone point
: out how to get to the tumblers? I've removed everything else (steering
: wheel, turn signal assembly, etc) but the lock cylinder has no obvious
: entry. The very end (side where the key slides in) appears to held in place
: by two pins driven into the metal. I assume these pins need to be extracted,
: but haven't a clue as to how. Any help would be appreciated.

You will probably have to drill them out. I can't be sure as my own
experience is with a Pontiac Fiero. When installing the cylinder you
need to use "security bolts". You basically use them like real bolts,
but intentially tighten them until the heads snap off.

It would be worth your while to find a service manual that explains
it. I know the factory manual will explain it well, but you may be
able to find what you are looking for in one of the others (Haynes,
Chilton).

Plus, you will learn a lot about your car when reading it, giving you
more confidence to try some of these "do-it-yourself" projects.

Mike

I have many times extracted broken keys with a thin piece of spring
steel wire with a mini hook on the end.

You slide the wire down the center side of the key, twist it 90 deg. (I
have a 1" bend at the top as a 'handle') and pull. I service key
operated vending machine heads and see 1 or 2 broken keys a week.

I learned the wire trick from an old time mechanic when I used to work
garages. It works well for automotive key extraction and house key
extraction.

Sometimes the front pin is in the way of a clean pull, so a second piece
of wire is handy to push it down.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
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I was able to get the ignition lock assembly removed from the steering
column after reading the Chilton guide (much, much better than the Hayne's
guide by the way). There were two bolts that had conical shaped heads with
no slots or other indentation that allowed for easy removal. Fortunately I
was able to twist them off with needle nosed pliers. There in good enough
shape to be reused, but I'll probably replace them with something more
ordinary - It's a Geo for cryin' out loud!

But the problem is that I cannot get to the actual tumblers of the lock
cylinder. I ended up taking the assembly to a mobile locksmith who used one
of the tools described by another poster to extract the broken key piece.
Unfortunately the tumbler still won't turn, even using a good key. There's
something definitely messed up with the lock.

The locksmith says the three roll-pins securing the tumblers have to be
extracted - I'll find out from him on Monday how he was able to do that. I
assume they're drilled out.

-david


| David G. (quantum_) wrote:
| : The key broke off in the ignition lock of our '94 Metro. Can anyone
point
| : out how to get to the tumblers? I've removed everything else (steering
| : wheel, turn signal assembly, etc) but the lock cylinder has no obvious
| : entry. The very end (side where the key slides in) appears to held in
place
| : by two pins driven into the metal. I assume these pins need to be
extracted,
| : but haven't a clue as to how. Any help would be appreciated.
|
| You will probably have to drill them out. I can't be sure as my own
| experience is with a Pontiac Fiero. When installing the cylinder you
| need to use "security bolts". You basically use them like real bolts,
| but intentially tighten them until the heads snap off.
|
| It would be worth your while to find a service manual that explains
| it. I know the factory manual will explain it well, but you may be
| able to find what you are looking for in one of the others (Haynes,
| Chilton).
|
| Plus, you will learn a lot about your car when reading it, giving you
| more confidence to try some of these "do-it-yourself" projects.
|
| Mike
|
|