The "I can't believe this part broke" thread

[Ldub]

I broke the end of my ignition key off in the steering column...
This didn't completely surprise me, since I've been using my back door with a broken off key stub for a couple of years.

However, I couldn't get the ignition to work by employing the same method.

After trying for about a half hour, I finally bit the bullet & called a locksmith.
He messed with it for at least forty five minutes before calling in backup. The second guy diddled with it for another twenty minutes, & niether of them could get the broken off part out of the key hole.

Hmmmmmm...decision time, either have a flat bed come & haul Suzy to the nearest place that MIGHT be able to fix it (nearest Isuzu dealer, about 200 mi away)

OR, have the locksmith feller drill out the guts of the lock, so that I can use a screwdriver as a key...

You already know which choice I made right?

So anyway, the screwdriver technique quit working the other day...
Dink'd around with it for a couple of evenings after work, trying WD-40 etc...no bueno...
So last night I got a little more seriouser...
First i took the switch assembly off the back side of the lock...hmmmm, looks promising...
Put a screwdriver in & rotated one click, get accessories to come on, good!
Rotate it another click, get dash lights...OK.
Another quarter turn & the engine rolls over & fires up...SWEET!

UNFORTUNATELY...

When I try to put it in gear, the shifter won't move...stupid safety/anti theft stuff...

OK, fine, take the center console apart & jimmy the shifter lock until I can get it out of park & into some usable gears...

Better go for a little test drive. At this point I'm having visions of driving Suzy to work for the first time since last Friday...found a work around for every problem the dirty little girl threw at me...
Click her into drive, turn the wheel slightly to pull out of my parking space & CLICK...the steering wheel locks...@#$%^&*&^%$#@!#$%^ and a few other curse words that I don't know how to spell...

Back into my parking space, go into my abode, that's enough for tonight.

Called Merlin today, a hunnert-n-twenny something later, & I should have a new Ign module & a couple of keys by tomorrow, Fr @ the latest...
It was nice talkin' to him & according to his parts network computer, I got the last one in the country...SOMETHING had to go right eventually.

Tell y'all one thing, from now on, I'm having a new key made on my birthday, & destroying the old one every year...cheap insurance that...