How To Drill Out Ignition Lock Cylinder On Ford?(Easy Steps)

The ignition lock cylinder is mechanically responsible for starting your Ford vehicle every time you insert the key. But what if that key gets stuck inside or the ignition lock wouldn’t start your car?

That is the call for a replacement. This leaves the question, how to drill out the ignition lock cylinder on Ford?

As the question stated, you have to use an electric drill gun for this process. So start with finding the perfect size drill bit then lock the drill bit into the drill bolts and start drilling.

Begin with a slower drill and gradually increase the speed to the highest to get the lock cylinder out along with taking care of your safety.

This was just a short intriguing peek of the full process. Be sure to skim through this entire article to clear all your queries.

Can I drill out the Ignition Lock Cylinder On Ford?

It’s pretty obvious that you can’t drill out the lock cylinder on your Ford vehicle without a drill gun. 

Hence if you’re eager to do the process by yourself then buy a drill machine from a local mechanic shop. 

Furthermore, if you feel like you have no use in buying a new drill machine as it will be sitting in the storeroom without being of any use after the repair. 

Then you’re more likely to spend that money on hiring a mechanic for this job than investing it on a new drill gun.

That being said, given that you have a drill gun sitting at your home and you have experience in using it, you can even be the hero and drill out the lock cylinder on your own.

Make sure that you have an adequate amount of different-sized drill bits, as the size of the drill slot may vary and it’s preferable to use a size smaller than the drilled bolt itself.

Tools You Need To Drill Out Ignition Lock Cylinder Ford 

The process actually feels uncomfortably insufficient without the essential tools required to get the work done. Hence it’s your utmost responsibility to keep all the necessary stuff beside you.

We understand the amount of hassle you need to go through to find the tools required for you to get done with ease. Hence, we’ve prepared an index of essentials for you. Please have a look!

• Set of different sized drill bits
• A pair of safety rubber gloves
• Safety goggles
• Flathead screwdriver
• Drill machine
• New ignition lock cylinder unit
• General screwdriver kit

How To Drill Out Ignition Lock Cylinder On Ford?

Drilling something out can be really difficult and mechanical by itself. Hence it’s best to do it under the supervision of someone with prior experience, in case of any mishaps.

People like to make a fuss when it comes to repairing or replacing something. This is most likely because repairing something is always more problematic than damaging it.

Just like that, the ignition lock cylinder went bad most probably because of your harsh habits of inserting the key. So, you at least owe this much to your car.

Just follow the steps given underneath to clear all your doubts about this process and finish the removal of the ignition cylinder with a snap of your finger.

Step 1: Make Sure The Engine Is Turned Down And Remove Unnecessary parts

Before you start working out the lock cylinder of your Ford vehicle, you should ensure that the engine is completely turned off to prevent any further malfunctioning of other vehicle units

Now follow this step with the removal of the steering wheel to avoid any interruptions while accessing the lock cylinder. Remove the mounting bolts from the lids of the steering wheel.

Then unplug the wired connections to the wheel and the horn eventually taking the steering wheel off the shaft. Keep the screws in a secured place to avoid losing them.

Step 2: Find The perfect Sized Drill Bit

Firstly get yourself a drill gun from your local mechanic’s store if you don’t have one at your home, as this equipment is a must.

Then you need to check if you have different-sized drill bits available since the drill-holes could be of various sizes. Hence, you might need to check which one fits the hole properly.

Step 3: Drill Out The Lock Ignition Cylinder

Once you’ve picked out the perfect-sized drill bit, plug it into the drill gun and insert it into the drill slot around the ignition cylinder and start drilling through.

Once you’ve drilled out the mounting bolts securing the ignition cylinder in place, you can thereby remove it. Then you can either replace it with a new one or get it repaired by a broker.

Lastly, install the fixed or new lock ignition unit and use the drills to screw the bolts in and followed by the steering wheel and other parts to officially conclude the repairing process.

Safety Tips To Follow When Drilling Out Ignition Lock Cylinder On Ford

Like we always say, your safety should be your top priority. Even in a case like this where the assignment could be quite dangerous with the occasional risk of serious injuries.

The first thing to keep in mind is that when dealing with a drill gun if you’ve never used it before, you’re advised to skip doing this task on your own.

Since the risks of serious injuries overshadow the benefits by a lot, you’re discouraged from doing this without any prior experience. 

However, when working on the ignition lock, you should keep these safety tips in mind:

• Wear tough rubber gloves to ensure minimum damage done to your hands in case of an accident with the drill.
• Keep your eyes covered with safety goggles to avoid metal scraps from entering the eye.
• Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery on your Ford to make sure you’re working in a safe environment, reducing the risks of electric discharges.
• When drilling, be sure to drill at a slower speed as doing this may reduce the risk of damaging the surroundings.
• Use hardened drill bits as it will not cause any damage to the drilling metal.
• Do not apply a lot of force when drilling the bolts out of the ignition switch as too much force may burn the rotor inside the drill motor.

Conclusion

The ignition lock cylinder of your Ford is crucial for starting your vehicle every time you insert and turn the keys. Hence, if you’ve damaged it somehow then you owe it a fix.

If you’ve thoroughly read through this article, you should be good enough to remove and replace the faulty ignition lock cylinder of your vehicle with a new one.

Hopefully, you’ve comprehended the safety concerns associated with this task as well. Whenever you work in such spots, you should look after your safety. Till then, take care and drive safely!

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