OEM 2000 Ford Taurus Ignition Lock Cylinder

2000 Ford Taurus Ignition Lock Cylinder Parts Q&A

• Q: How to safely service and repair a non-functional Ignition Lock Cylinder in a system equipped with an Air Bag on 2000 Ford Taurus?

  A: The maintenance of non-functional steering column lock cylinders requires safety glasses during air bag vehicle work and air bag module handling to protect against accidental air bag deployment-related injuries. You should handle a live air bag module with its air bag and trim cover oriented away from your body and avoid placing it with its trim cover facing the ground. One should wash their hands with soap and water after deployment to eliminate irritated sodium hydroxide deposits from the skin. The connectors of an air bag module require no probing to prevent unintentional deployment but damaged or discolored covers must be replaced immediately. Vehicle sensor orientation stands as a vital element in safety; check for any deformation on sensor mounting brackets and wiring pigtails post-collision while replacing these elements in all situations. Repair work must begin only after disconnecting the battery ground cable for one minute while removing all auxiliary batteries and power supplies. Verify that front tire wheels rest in a straight-ahead posture. Start by taking out the steering wheel assembly and twist away the cap from the ignition switch cylinder and then throw out the inoperative lock cylinder. Use the inclusion of instructions from the lock repair package (F85Z-11582-AA) to construct a new lock cylinder that matches the key code of the existing system. Use a 1/8-inch diameter drill bit to open the lock cylinder retaining pin after which you should drill a 3/8-inch hole through the ignition lock key slot until the lock cylinder separates. After cleaning the drill shavings from the steering column the maintenance professional removes the bearing retainer followed by the bearing and gear in order to do a visual inspection for column damage. The technician starts by installing the gear and bearing before adding the bearing retainer and ignition switch lock cylinder with a new one and testing its operation. Finish the installation by putting the steering wheel back into place and test the air bag system using the diagnostic tool because the tool must remain out of the vehicle until driving to prevent safety standards violations and injuries. Air bag system testing through proof-out process must be performed to finish this work.