GX470 Ignition Cylinder Question (1 Viewer)

[winecaster]

Hey folks,

Key didn't turn at all in my '09 GX470. I removed the ignition cylinder and am in the process of trying to figure out a way to remove the tumbler without destroying the housing assembly. I have question for a part on the housing that I might have made a boo-boo with and hoping someone knows something about it. There's a small "L" bracket that holds a pin down just before the steering wheel lock dead bolt. Welp, for really no good reason I removed that bracket and the pin sucked back into the housing. I've tried fishing it down with strong magnet while depressing the dead bolt but it doesn't seem to want to come down.

What is this pin's duty in the mechanism, and is it 100% necessary for normal function?

Second, any tips for removing the tumbler? I saw a video of a guy beating a screwdriver into where the key enters but that seems a little more than I should try first.

 

[ogsuv]

Not sure if this will help, but lots of info here on 100 series ignition issues busted ignition - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/busted-ignition.57050/

must be a similar or same design.

 

[ogsuv]

Did you get it fixed?

 

[winecaster]

Did you get it fixed?

I did fix it. Wanted to give it a week or so before follow up on my help threads.

My original question was what that pin’s purpose was that went into the housing after I stupidly (DONT DO IT) removed the L bracket holding the pin up. To the best of my understanding it’s a coupler pin that retracts the steering lock deadbolt when the key is turned to ACC/On/Start. With that pin sucked into the housing the deadbolt will never retract and your steering will always be locked up. I can’t comprehend that feature but I’m over thinking about it by now. By the way, that pin cannot be pulled back up to be reseated in the bracket.

I ended up depressing the deadbolt, drilling a hole all the way through the housing and the bolt, and then putting a hardware bolt through it so it can never engage. My steering wheel will never lock up and that’s okay with me.

As for the locked up ignition: I couldn’t remove the tumbler lock cylinder because the key wouldn’t turn to ACC. If I could go to ACC all you have to do is push down a pin while in ACC position and the whole cylinder slides out and you can just replace that.

I ended up drilling out the pin and sliding out the old cylinder lock and putting in a new one with new key for $180ish from Autozone. No locksmith will rekey the new cylinder for the new key but will rekey the single door lock for the new key so you still have one key. The fob fit into the new key with no issues.

Back on the road!