Ignition Lock Cylinder or PATS ?

[Blk04LS]

A few mornings ago I went to go to work and found that the key will no longer turn the ignition cylinder. Tried moving the wheel and shifter around, which is locked in Park, with no success. I also tried a second known good key with the same results. Can the PATS system prevent the key from turning at all, or simply disable the ability to start the car?

The evening before I tried a flip key blank to make sure that the key fit properly. Not sure if this caused a PATS problem or if I may have a hardware issue in the lock cylinder, like a broken tumbler spring?

It's an '04 V8 and any info or advice you can offer is appreciated.

Scott

 

[joegr]

No, PATS can not stop the key from turning. It can only prevent the engine from starting and running. It sounds like you have a purely mechanical problem.

 

[Blk04LS]

Yeah, I didn't think so. Thanks for the confirmation.
Guess it's time to pull the assembly, anything of note to watch out for?

 

[FlaOkie]

The ignition in my '02 Continental locked up and would not turn.
It was a little biddy ball and small spring that came apart.
The spring fell out of the hole that it sat in, and jammed between the lock cylinder and the part that turns.
I know a Conti is not a LS – but it does show it can be a mechanical failure in the lock mechanism.