Yeah if you kill the engine and pull the key with the wheel clocked all the way in one direction it definitely will happen! Gotta pull hard towards the turned direction while putting key in to get past!
Sounds like it wore out or has a damaged tumbler in there.
Or possibly frozen condensation.
Sometimes rattling the switch with a hammer on a key will help.
If you have to replace it, you'll probably have to have the SKIM reset, unless it's separate from the switch, which I think it is.
Been awhile since I've been in there.
The temps have been around zero this week. I took a heat gun to it with out luck. No luck with the hammer trick either - nearly spilt the plastic off my 70$ chipped spare key. I have some penetrating oil. Then I guess I'll pull it apart.
A couple minutes of rapid light taps with a rubber mallet on the key while rocking it back and forth got it freed up for now. The last week it started having a mis as it revs down from high idle. Damn 3rd gen is burning up my 12 valve money.
Good to know. I had an old can of Telflex aerosol graphite . I tested it outside to make sure it wouldn't freeze. Blasted the ignition a couple times and work the key around.
So if I change the cylinder I'll need new chipped Keys won't I ?
Shouldn't need new keys.
Dissect one, I think the chip can be swapped, if not, the key stem itself can.
IIRC, the receiver is located around the lock housing, where the tumbler assembly slides in.