The ignition key is very hard to turn in cold weather. It's pretty clear the grease inside the mechanism has dried out and has dried out and gotten hard. So I think I need to take the steering column apart to remove the old grease from the key assembly and re-grease it. Unfortunately, the service manual doesn't provide any info on how to do that. I'm curious if anyone has some experience or tips on servicing the ignition key gearing. (Spraying wd40 in to the key slot did nothing.) I'm assuming it's a rack and pinion setup that's moving a pushrod to the switch on the column.

 

If you have a pick with a right angle you can usually snake it in around the column bezel/trim and depress the pin. you need to get the key into the "acc" position for the pin to move. The pin will be in about the 9 o'clock position
If cleaning doesn't help sometimes cutting a new key from code works. The key code is stamped on the passenger door lock. You'll need to pull the door panel to access that. Making a new key by copying your old key won't do it. You'll just have a new key that's pre-worn. The last resort is having a locksmith put new wafers and springs in the ignition lock.

If you have access to a ultrasonic cleaner that does a great job of cleaning. Use very hot water and add some Dawn detergent.
Here's a picture of the pin in question. With the key in Acc position that pin will push in and let the cylinder pull out.

 

I've had the cylinder out already. That wasn't the problem unfortunately. I guess that would have been too easy. The problem seems to be with whatever lies beyond the cylinder that the cylinder is turning. I replaced the keys some time ago using the secret code. The keys work fine.

 

The key cylinder turns the ignition switch. I doubt you can service the ignition switch, it usually just gets replaced. You will have to remove some steering column trim to access it, but nothing complicated.
Sometimes techs call it the "electrical ignition switch" to avoid confusion with the part that takes the key.