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Difficult to come up with a title for this thread; I used the search function to see if anyone else has had the issue, but can't find it on this forum - can find it on plenty of other forums though.
To set the scene, I was parked the other day one level down in a shopping mall's parking garage, with about 10cm to spare for roof clearance, and the parking meter was ticking away. I turned the key in the ignition lock, there was a slight crack, and then the key just turned freely in the lock, not stopping at any of the usual points, no resistance. The power was on (the clock was on) and I couldn't turn the power off.
Was fairly certain that the lock had broken somehow. Long story short, it turns out that the lock is fine, but that a metal rod that connects the key to the steering column lock, and various other things, snapped. This is all contained in a housing that is called, "BRACKET ASSY, STEERING COLUMN, UPPER" in the parts catalogue (part number 45280-60550 for my vehicle). In reading other forums (at least up here in Europe, and the equivalent Lexus forums in the US), this is a common occurrence and usually happens at around 10 years of age. This metal rod is cast and not machined. Apparently the stress of turning the key/rod while there is pressure on it eventually causes it to snap. If this happens, you're looking at anywhere from $500-$1200 for someone else to fix it.
I'm now looking to see how much I'm going to have to pay for this housing, used or new. Preferably new, for obvious reasons.
has anyone else had this problem with their 120? Any tips already on this forum for changing it out?
To set the scene, I was parked the other day one level down in a shopping mall's parking garage, with about 10cm to spare for roof clearance, and the parking meter was ticking away. I turned the key in the ignition lock, there was a slight crack, and then the key just turned freely in the lock, not stopping at any of the usual points, no resistance. The power was on (the clock was on) and I couldn't turn the power off.
Was fairly certain that the lock had broken somehow. Long story short, it turns out that the lock is fine, but that a metal rod that connects the key to the steering column lock, and various other things, snapped. This is all contained in a housing that is called, "BRACKET ASSY, STEERING COLUMN, UPPER" in the parts catalogue (part number 45280-60550 for my vehicle). In reading other forums (at least up here in Europe, and the equivalent Lexus forums in the US), this is a common occurrence and usually happens at around 10 years of age. This metal rod is cast and not machined. Apparently the stress of turning the key/rod while there is pressure on it eventually causes it to snap. If this happens, you're looking at anywhere from $500-$1200 for someone else to fix it.
I'm now looking to see how much I'm going to have to pay for this housing, used or new. Preferably new, for obvious reasons.
has anyone else had this problem with their 120? Any tips already on this forum for changing it out?
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