My ignition cylinder had 368,000 miles of use and for over a decade the key could be removed no matter what position it was turned in. On rare occasions the key had dropped out of the cylinder while I was driving. I replaced the cylinder with a new one so all is well, but am wondering if anyone has fixed an old cylinder that no longer keeps the key locked in place when the ignition is on?
I'm tempted to take the C clip off the back and pull it apart, but know nothing about the internal parts of an ignition cylinder.

 

You can rebuild it if you have a good key .

If you don`t have a good key making a key from the right door then putting the new wafers in will cost as much as the new lock cylinder and rekeying it to match the other locks.

When you rekey a lock cylinder most all the parts are new.

If you know a locksmith they might sell you the parts to try doing it yourself.

 

I have the key number for the original cylinder. Before purchasing a new cylinder I went by the local Toyota dealer with the key # and they cut a brand new key. I then tried the new key in the old cylinder to see if the problem was key wear. Unfortunately the newly cut key also pulls right out no matter where the ignition is turned.
If I replace the wafers will this prevent the key from coming out when it shouldn't or is there something else that locks the key in position when it is turned?

 

Yes your lock cylinder will be like new.Your key should only come out in the off position.

Thing is you must get the new wafers installed in the correct order.

As you look at your key each one of those cuts gets a different wafer not only must you have all the different wafers sometimes several of each that must be in the correct order.

When doing something like this one most often has the wafer kit in front of them.

It is not hard once you understand how things work but like rocket science before

 

Thanks for the advice. I found a company on-line that sells cylinder repair kits to locksmiths. Interesting, in the one for Toyota cylinders the wafers are called tumblers. Obviously the kits contain many wafers of each size and various other parts.
I'll take the cylinder apart and try ro find a locksmith who will sell me the individual wafers/tumblers for a fair price.
Are the individual wafers numbered or does one have to match them physically with replacement wafers?

 

If I remember they are marked but it has been quite a while I could be wrong.

 

I have to disagree that the cylinder would be like new. On my door cylinders at least, the tumblers had worn grooves into the outer cylinder. It made it so that you could not lock the door from the outside using the key, since you could only turn the key one way. While new tumblers would fix that problem, having those grooves in there makes the doorlock a whole lot easier to pick or open with a dummy key.

 

Well anything can be worn to the point of being unrepairable I guess I should have stated that.

Yes things get so bad as to be not worth trying to fix.

 

Locked my keys in my truck one time at work a few years ago. My co-worker's ancient 10-15 year old Kia key was worn into a similar shape and unlocked my doors and started the truck.

If somebody wants to steal it, have at it. Its insured for that. Its the only truck in a 5000 mile radius that has a brand new hood that is rusted because I was too lazy to prime it, only truck with the front bumper held on with an extension cord, only truck sporting black house paint put on with a brush, only truck with a bunch of white paint spilled all over the rear bumper. The cops WILL find you lol.