ignition barrell

**ed taylor** · 2nd July 2006, 15:54

When you turn the key to start the car..[ my wifes vectra b] the lock seems to be a little dry and in need of some lubrication, something I have never done to any car I have had, I was once told that it is not a good idea to "oil" them any ideas on this one??. cheers.

**VauxVeteran** · 2nd July 2006, 17:38

Err, I know what you mean here Ed, I had one go on me yrs ago in a Cavalier GLi I owned, might be a good idea to put a new barrel in now before it goes, otherwise you are stranded with a lock that wont turn, happened also to my mate at heathrow as he was bringing ppl back off holiday.

P.S and they are a sod to get out once they fail, gotta feeling I had to replace the housing as well if I remember right, at this time you just need a pin to free it.

**Green Growler** · 2nd July 2006, 18:32

Are you sure it is the barrel, and not the key ???
If the same key is used all the time it will wear out, and it should wear out before the barrel, if you have a second (newer, less used) key, try that and see if it's still the same.

**ed taylor** · 2nd July 2006, 18:50

I will try that ,but the strange thing is that the barrel seems stiff to rotate, might be catching on the plastic cowling. I will have to look a little futher.

**Robbieben** · 2nd July 2006, 19:53

Ed a gentle squirt of WD40 or similar won't do any harm as barrel and electrics are 2 separate parts

Put key partially in lock and spray WD40 down key allowing it to run into the lock.

**ed taylor** · 2nd July 2006, 20:27

I once remember someone saying that they knew someone who put WD40 in the ignition barrel of a ford and it reacted with the grease and jammed it up??? mind you we used to call this bloke "the bull 5hitter", but I will see how it goes, as I don,t want Larisa to get in any difficulties with it, to be honest she has not noticed anything yet.

**Gsi3.2** · 2nd July 2006, 20:58

Ed, backing robbie up again tonight...

WD40 will help no end.. the vauxhall barrels are only lubed with a shot of white grease anyway..so either spray some of that or a shot of the old liquid spanner in the keyway..if you wipe most of the excess off the key she'll never even know you've done it..

**ed taylor** · 2nd July 2006, 21:04

Cheers lad,s I will give it a shot of WD40 and see if that does the trick....

**Gsi3.2** · 2nd July 2006, 21:08

if it doesn't and you're feeling brave.. you could remove and dismantle the barrel..it'll be a little burr in a machined keyway that the gates fall into.. a halfround needle file usually does it for me..

**The Doc** · 2nd July 2006, 21:11

2nd the WD40. Just given the Frontera a full service and it is chuffin great now. Just did it on mine as I felt the key twist slightly.

Feels brand new.