Key Wont Come out

Hello, I just brought a 2003 Tundra from a Police auction. There was no ignition lock cylinder, and gear shifter was broken. I replaced both and someother wiring along the way. The problem I got is that I cannot remove the key. I can move to all postions (ACC, ON, START) except LOCK. I would appreciate any advice you got for me. Thank you.

 

Remove the trim and them remove the lock cylinder (little button to push on bottom when in ACC. With cylinder out verify it rotates freely and key can be removed. If not take cylinder to locksmith.

 

I replaced it for a new one already. I guess it was stolen or something and the whole cylinder was missing. You could turn on the car some pliers when I bought it. Now with the new one the key wont come out.

 

Dumb question, but you know you have to push the key in and rotate to remove it right?

 

Good question, but yeah tried.

 

I did this when I got my truck. Was pissed at myself for breaking it on the first day of ownership. Was even more pissed with myself once I realized you had to push the key in.

 

This is a total guess here... but an educated one.

Watch this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrQUOqI_m8c

At 3:30 he shows how he pushes the plunger in at the bottom of the cylinder to get it out. The key point here (pun intended) is that the key needs to be in the ACC position for this plunger to be pushed and the cylinder pulled out, so if that plunger is pressed in the key can't go past the ACC position. I'd remove the lock cylinder per the video, and carefully inspect the area of the housing where the lock cylinder slides in. For reference, this pic shows the lock cylinder out and the arrow is pointing to the plunger. With the lock cylinder out and key in it, does it turn to all positions -- including off? Can you press that plunger in when the key is in the ACC position?

Here's my hypothesis: Since your original cylinder was likely forcibly removed, there's a good chance something got buggered up. Now there's something there that's pushing that plunger in, stopping the key from going to the off position.
If you're lucky, maybe you'll find a piece of broken off metal that can just be picked out of the space.

 

So I removed the cylinder again and tried to manually turn the metsl rod inside to a lock position (Horizontal) but it wont go all the way. My guess is that it has to do with the Parking Gear.

 

Surprised the truck could be started with a pliers when you got it. It should be chipped.

 

Not on 1st gens. Some of the later-year double cabs had immob, but none of the reg/access cab trucks had it, and many DC didn't.

 

I that your new lock cylinder?

 

Interesting. Didn’t know that. My 2001 Sequoia has it. I assumed the trucks did too.

 

Those are all damaged parts I already replaced

 

I'd check and see if the park lock solenoid/mechanism for the column isn't damaged.

The one tied to the neutral safety switch, which doesn't allow key removal when not in park.

 

I hoped that was the case, since the lock cylinder and wafers were all disassembled.

Looks like everything is clear for the plunger at the bottom of the cylinder.


If I remember correctly, the long lever shown here engages with the shifter mechanism. If the shift lever isn't in Park, the key can't be turned off. Look back down the housing in the above pic while moving the shift lever. See if everything looks right.

 

Make sure it's in park and wiggle the steering wheel.