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Jeep: Ignition Key Won't turn | windshield wiper stops

Jeep

AAA would only pay $50 and the locksmith they contacted said it would be $250 (He claimed it was a problem common to most chrystler vehicles that the wafers go bad (wafers are used in place of tumblers on some locks see www.wilton.force9.co.uk/lock/mechanism2.htm).
It cost $225 during normal working hours less $50 from AAA. I checked the price at the jeep dealer and the lock and wafers are $140. I couldn't find anything on cartalk's web site or via a google, so it may not be as common as the locksmith said. The jeep dealer said he didn't think it was that big of a problem but they stocked 8 sets (they work in some dodges and jeeps) so there was fair demand for them. I only took him a minute to pull the cylinder out with a special tool (he didn't have to take the steering colum apart which I would have done to try and fix it myself).

Lessons:
1. They told me you can sometimes get it to work by tapping the end of the key with a screwdriver or your shoe then wiggling it around, but it will eventually freeze up so you need to get it fixed right away.
2. It may be just a cheap to have a locksmith come on a service call as getting the lock yourself and having a gas station install it, assuming you can get it running temporairly.

Windshield wiper stops working:
If your in freezing weather it's possible that freezing rain or water from snow melted on your windshield with the defroster on has gone thru the vent right in front of the windshield and frozen the levers coming out of the motor. Pore hot water on the which is on the drivers side of the vent. Step 1. Check Fuse
Step 2. Turn wipers on. Wiggle the switch, try every position while watching for any movement of the wipers. Watch closely, they may move a tiny bit if you hit the sweet spot on a bad switch.
Step 3. Turn wipers on. Nudge the wipers by hand - not too hard. If the wiper motor has a dead spot a little nudge might find it.
Anything beyond these methods is a little more advanced like checking bad connections with a circuit tester, wiggling plugs, taking the switch apart etc. Try steps 2&3 and if you're feeling adventurous, come back and ask for advice.
Try removing your front cowel (where the windshield wiper motor is) and then run the wipers. It is only a few screws (there are two screws behind the rubber gasket between the hood and the cowel; The rest are on top.) and you can visually check the motor. If there are some parts moving and they still aren't working, then I would say something is stripped and needs to be replaced. I don't know if the wiper motor gets changed from model to model, but you probably can get a motor for that at a junk yard for cheap. It is not a complicated system. Unless we are talking electrical.

Jeep Links:
Jeeps Canada - Jeep Forums

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