Possumblog

Every once in a while...

I wonder why I keep writing Possumblog. I mean, it's fun and all, but you know, sometimes fun's just not enough. And then, out of the blue, you get nice letters from people you don't know.

Such as this one, which beside delivering the constant positive reinforcement I so crave, is also darned entertaining to read as well:

Subject: ford focus tumbler problem

Hey Terry,

Thanks for the in depth account of your travails in dealing with this issue. I find that I am both encouraged and worried at the same time. You see, I consider myself a reluctant handyman (handy person). I possess not the greatest level of skill, common sense, or tools to approach any given project. Despite these inadequacies I am pushed forward to attempt certain problems because I don't want to spend the money (not that it's really an option) and because I have this illogical feeling that if I do not at least attempt these things then the very core of my being is in question. Dramatics aside I do have a few questions. Your response will be greatly appreciated and taken with the caveat that no responsibility whatsoever will be directed toward you.

1) Given that there does not seem to be ignition/tumbler assemblies of higher integrity available, the only downside to this solution is the loss of the lock, meaning that the steering column will not lock? But the key sans tumblers works fine with the transponder and turns the switch just fine?

2) Ok, you don't know me or my skills but put into words in a different way the level of difficulty of the procedure.

thanks for any help (and what you've done already)

Bubba Love

This letter was in response to the trouble I was having last year with the ignition lock on Reba's Focus, (detailed in excrutiatingly detailed detail here) but I just have to say that's one of the nicest letters I've gotten in a while. Although I think Bubba Love might just be a pseudonym.

In any event, I replied to Bubba that the job is doable even by a moron like me, and in all is probably only about a forty-five minute job at the outside, and more likely only about thirty. The steering wheel does still "lock" after a fashion, in that there is a locking lug that remains as part of the assembly and still engages the steering wheel. The only way to get the lug to retract is by inserting a key (even though the tumblers aren't there), but it still won't crank unless the exact matching transponder key is used. The only downside is if you live in a locality which has vehicle inspections, and one of the requirements is that you can't operate a vehicle from which the key can be removed while the engine is running.

And yes, a lot of the reason I work on as much of my own stuff myself is partially due to wanting to save money, but also it's the idea that if I think I can do something, and simply refuse to try to fix it myself, it's like I'm just throwing money away.

Anyway, thanks again to Bubba for the nice letter.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at September 7, 2005 09:56 AM