The DU Lounge

Keyed ignitions are not all they're cracked up to be.

In the late 90's, a co-worker of mine had a bunch of keychains and keys on a key lanyard weighing it down causing damage to the keyed ignition and she had to have her ignition replaced. The mechanic told her flat out why her ignition went bad and she stopped placing all this weight on the ignition of her vehicle.



I had a Grand Prix and once I got it paid off, I couldn't get the key out of the ignition at all. Like ever. I had to put a drill bit in my console and insert the drill bit into the bottom of the steering column to release my key from the ignition. Every time I went someplace.


As you know, I replace my 2011 Ford Escape last year. It only happened a handful of times but the entire steering column would seize up on me when I shut my truck off. I couldn't release the key from the ignition or move the steering wheel at all. It was locked tight. I had to wait awhile for it to behave and return to normal. I think it might have been a faulty anti-theft device but it doesn't matter anymore why the hell it did this.


It wasn't that long ago I had a discussion with another DU'er about key ignition vehicles vs. push start/key fob vehicles. The other DU'er was adamant about key fobs being hacked and how easy it is to steal a car with a hacked key fob compared to a key ignition. Alright fine but I had to explain that all it took to steal a key ignition type of car was to jimmy the door with a wired coat hanger and hotwire the ignition. This actually happened to my moms 1980 something car when I was in high school. Thieves have been steeling cars since their invention. It doesn't matter if the ignition is key ignition or a push start.

My only issue with a key fob is sometimes I throw it someplace inside the vehicle and then I can't find it as I'm getting out of my car. I'm getting better at not doing this because it takes up a bunch of my time.


Also in this new car, I really like the blind spot warnings. There are certain places (the blind spot obviously) that I can't see the other vehicle whatsoever. That blind spot warning prevents me from having a collision during a lane change and jacking up my insurance cost.


I prefer to use my cell phone instead of a dirty telephone booth. Also, I wish that people would get the fuck off their cell phones out in public. No one wants to hear private phone conversations at the store. I can't tell you how many stores that I left without buying anything because someone else was carrying on a phone conversation right next to me. They need to walk their ass out to their car and talk. Fucko's!!!