female owner in needs help...

[irish.cream]

i'm new to this forum and don't know if anyone can help? .... i own a discovery 2.5td 1997 automatic diesel. My ignition has this evening given me some trouble ... it wouldn't allow my key to turn in it at all.. i've had to strip it down and lubricate the lock to get it to turn... i'm now wondering if this is a common fault or just one of those things and will it mean a new barrel eventually? i don't fancy a garage bill so any advice would be greatly appreciated....

[andymach23]

Hi

I have a thread from a couple of days ago on this very issue with my D2. I bought a used lock off ebay but didn't need it. I took my ignition off and ran some contact cleaner through it and it's as good as new.

With the D2 key you can pull the plastic fob off the blade so you can turn the blade with pliers to get a bit more force to get the car started. This worked on mine.

Seems that it is very common.

Cheers

Andy

[irish.cream]

thank you i'll give it a try ....

[cts1975]

Do you have a spare key?
If so try that - if it improves get a new key cut of the second key.

[bilge rat]

is that a 300 on a 97 ?. i have heard a few 300s having new barrels including mine . my other one used to lock up on ocasions when i first had it . i sprayed a ptfe based spray down it (triflow) now done over 200.000 and o.k at the mo. alan...

[andymach23]

Do you have a spare key?
If so try that - if it improves get a new key cut of the second key.

Yes, good idea. On my Rover 600 the key started to give trouble. I just got a new one cut from the red 'master key' as a templete and the new key worked a treat.

[Tom Mepham]

The ignition barrel on the 300tdi and td5 models is of all the world the same unit, very badly designed. The internals in the lock are made from soft brass, the key is made from hard steel- possibly even stainless steel. This means the ignition barrel wears before the key, if it is sticking replace the unit as it will at some point wear and you wont be able to turn the key at all. We doctored the one on out td5, too it apart and ripped all the internals out- now any key fits!
Tom