NHTSA Complaint #10349521 — 2004 FORD FOCUS

THE IGNITION LOCK FROZE UP WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING US STRANDED ACROSS TOWN. THANKFULLY WE WERE IN A SAFE PART OF TOWN WITH ACCESS TO TOOLS SO WE GOT THE PROBLEM RESOLVED TEMPORARILY. THE IGNITION CAN BE UN FROZEN BY TAKING APART THE STEERING COLUMN AND REMOVING ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FROM THE LOCK. THEN PUT A DRIP PAN UNDER THE LOCK AND BLOW ALL THE METAL SHAVINGS OUT OF THE LOCK WITH A LIQUID LUBRICANT. DO NOT USE WD40. WE USED A FIREARM LUBRICANT WHICH WILL NOT CLUMP THE NEW SHAVINGS AND IT HAS WORKED RATHER WELL SO FAR (BREAKFREE). AS A PRECAUTION WE LEAVE THE KEY IN THE LOCK WHICH IS RISKY TO DO IN BAD PARTS OF TOWN. TO CIRCUMVENT THIS WE REMOVE THE KEY RFID SENSOR FROM THE CAR WHICH PREVENTS THE ENGINE FROM STARTING AT ALL NO MATTER WHAT THE LOCK IS DOING. THIS HAS STARTED TO CREATE PROBLEMS WITH THE IMMOBLIZER IN THE CAR AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT NEEDING THAT TO BE RESET EVERY SO OFTEN. THE BEST PLACE TO GET THIS FIXED IS NOT AT THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY WILL USE THE SAME CRAPPY PARTS THAT GOT YOU INTO THIS MESS TO START. GO TO A LOCK SMITH AND HAVE THEM USE NON FORD PARTS. WE ARE WAITING ON A AFTERMARKET LOCK TO ARRIVE FROM HTTP://WWW.SANDIEGOLOCKANDSAFE.COM WHICH HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE ON THIS ISSUE (ALONG WITH MOST LOCK SMITHS WORTH THEIR SALT). IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU AND YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA GO HERE: HTTP://WWW.FAZMICLAW.COM/ , SEND THEM A MESSAGE AND ATTACH YOURSELF TO THE NOW PENDING LAWSUIT (08-15-2010). *TR