Galaxy Key Jammed

[nick27]

Has anyone experienced a jammed key in their Galaxy? We opened our car manually (as the autokey hasn't worked for some time), used the boot, shut the door. I then inadvertenly put the key in the drivers door lock to unlock it again without thinking. It seized the key and we can't get it back out. Do you think it's an electrical fault connected to the alarm system or a mechanical problem? Cheers

[mumof4]

WEll ive never heard of a gal seizing the key in regards to the immobiliser....can you actually get into the car itself??Have you tried squirting some wd40 in it??

 

what galaxy have you got?

[nick27]

We've got a 2.3l zetec X reg, (can't remember what year that makes it!) Tried the WD40. did nothing. Any other suggestions?

[mumof4]

2000/2001

 

now..you can either...call a locksmith out....( check your insurance policy here..may cover it)..or..if you can get into the car its take the lock out...or...you can wait for someone with more knowledge than me to help!.

 

In the mean time..hmm..do you have another key?????..trying to remember if the passenger door has a lock...if it does..could try unlocking/locking via that door???

[nick27]

We can get in and out of the car, we can drive it as we have a spare key, so can drive with the main autokey still in the door lock. Obviously can't leave it anywhere for security reasons! The key will turn clockwise to a horizontal position but cannot return to a complete 'upright' position, it's stuck in between. We now have the red light in the door flashing and the hazzards going on and off when we open the door, which leads me to believe it's an electrical problem. Read a thread re programming the keyfob to see if that helped but can't get the blummin thing out of the lock to point at the mirror!! Thanks for your suggestions mumof4, they are appreciated!

[mumof4]

Hmmm...something could be jamming the door lock though...

 

What sequence/how many times does the led light flash??when the hazards flash..how many times do they flash??

 

as hazards and led are lock/unlock/immobiliser...but they do have a sequence which is why i ask.

 

The only way you will get the remote fob off the key is to take it apart insitu..but you really need to get that key out.May be something simple!.

 

soooo....am i right in thinking that door does not open??or does it??

[nick27]

The door does open and close, and you can still operate the immobiliser with the key fob taken off the key (which stays stuck in the lock). It locks all of the doors except the driver's door because the key will not return to the upright locked position. If it did, we think it would be able to be removed. The LED flashes as it would when normally locked and the hazzards flash approx 10 times when the door is opened. Does that make any sense??

[mumof4]

Right..ummm..if it is a MKII..i think you are going to need to take the door card off..(look in the FAQs)...i think something is jamming it in regards to letting it go back upright.

 

Time to dismantle me thinks!!Youve got a few hours till the sun sets!.

 

Oho..sparkys here,,he may be able to help you.

[sparky Paul]

The release of the key in the upright position is a mechnical function of the lock, so I would say you definitely have a mechanical problem. You will not be able to remove the key unless you can return it to the vertical position - attempting to pull out the key by force in any other position may damage the lock and possibly the key too.

 

From your explanation, I would say that the either the lock mechanism or a linkage is jammed, or the key barrel is jammed or damaged internally. As you have obviously tried lots of key jiggling, you may have to remove the door card to see what's going on behind the lock...

 

edit: ...just as mo4 said! ;)

Edited July 29, 2007 by sparky Paul

[mumof4]

Oh my word...i was right!!??..he will have to remove the door card??...woooooohhhhhhooooooooo!!...do i get a gold star??pretty please????..

[sparky Paul]

Oh my word...i was right!!??..he will have to remove the door card??...woooooohhhhhhooooooooo!!...do i get a gold star??pretty please????..

 

If he can't get the key back vertical, there's not much choice IMHO - you've got to start somewhere...

 

If it makes you feel good, have a gold star and a smiley too! ;) ;)

Edited July 29, 2007 by sparky Paul

[mumof4]

You do indeed..,,

 

It does..not often that im right ;) ooo...and a smiley.....

[nick27]

Thanks you two! Actually he's a she but wanted a blokey mantle in case answer was v simple and had lots of doh! women eh? comments!! Will try removal of door card, as you say, few hours of daylight left!!

[mumof4]

;) ..Believe me..if the lads on here try that...they would be sooooooooo in trouble!!

 

Besides..none of us girlies have yet filled their car up with the wrong fuel..unlike a couple of the lads on here. so they cant say owt really.;) ;)

[sparky Paul]

My apologies! ;)

 

Actually he's a she but wanted a blokey mantle in case answer was v simple and had lots of doh! women eh? comments!!

 

As if I would! ;)

 

We know better than that on here... ;)

Edited July 29, 2007 by sparky Paul

[nick27]

Have got door card off, however cannot get to the workings of the lock to see what the jam is caused by, can feel the barrel etc. Is it worth taking the barrel out and if so how?? (Approx 3.5 hrs daylight left!!)

[mumof4]

Have got door card off, however cannot get to the workings of the lock to see what the jam is caused by, can feel the barrel etc. Is it worth taking the barrel out and if so how?? (Approx 3.5 hrs daylight left!!)

 

this im afraid i cannot advise..i can only guess..

 

if it were me..id take the barrel out and see whats going on...as to how.....i dont know..again if it were me..id be screaming on here for help...and just taking things apart on the door till i got to what i needed to..Plus id be taking pics so i knew how it all went back together.

 

all my opinion only and i take no reponsability if you break summit. ;)

[nick27]

mumof4, thanks for all your help, wouldn't dream of blaming anyone, have just been glad of all the support today. Will attempt to get barrel out, not having much luck so far, Mr Nick27 (I'm the one who can type!) is busy down there as I speak. Have motor co over road we can deliver to in the morning if all goes pear shaped. Will let you know

[mumof4]

No worries hun..good luck with it all!!.Let us know how you progress.

[sparky Paul]

Have got door card off, however cannot get to the workings of the lock to see what the jam is caused by, can feel the barrel etc. Is it worth taking the barrel out and if so how?? (Approx 3.5 hrs daylight left!!)

First of all, I would check that nothing has come adrift around the lock mechanism. If nothing seems out of the ordinary, then it's likely that that lock has something inside jamming it - either a foreign body or some part of the mechanism which has failed.

 

As for removing the lock barrel, I would have to check with Mr Haynes or the Ford TIS, if you want to go that far... ;)

[big_kev]

Seen this on ebay

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=200133141770

[nick27]

Just to let all you helpful people out there, we finally got our car back today with new lock and 2 new keys thanks to the garage over the road. They managed to get the key out but it did the same thing over again so needed new barrel. However, I now have a key to manually open the door with and the old key to drive the car with! Can I do anything about this? Or am I destined to spend life manually??! (Did enjoy the short period of my life when the blummin automatic key actually worked!!). The garage charged us

[sparky Paul]

However, I now have a key to manually open the door with and the old key to drive the car with! Can I do anything about this? Or am I destined to spend life manually??!

 

I suspect that the only answer will be another new door lock barrel matched to your original key.

 

I've never bought one from Ford, but I would think that a main dealer should be able to order one to match your other locks from your VIN and registration number.