So my key won't turn. At all. It's completely stuck. I can take it in and out but the steering wheel is locked and I cant shift out of park to move the car out of the way to get my jeep out of the garage.

A few questions. I know I can order a new cylinder and install it but I don't want to invest any money in this Swedish pile of crap so I'm thinking about bypassing all anti theft devices and installing a hot switch and a starter switch.

I know the car uses an immobilizer that reads the RFID chip in the key. So is it possible to remove the locking cylinder and pull the lock apart so that any key will turn the cylinder? but only my key will start the car on account of the coded key

Second option would be to put the key in the broken lock cylinder so the immobilizer reads the coded key. Then just a switch to turn the ignition system on and just a push button start. NO need to turn the key at all. But how would you work around the steering wheel lock and the shifter lock?

I will haul it to the scrap yard before I take to the dealership and pay $700 for a new locking cylinder.

 

A new column lock is $275, not $700 (assuming you're in the US, mobile doesn't say).

 

Really? Does that come coded and keyed to my keys? I called the local Dealership here in Louisiana and the service guy knew exactly what I was talking about and said they have to program and key the cylinder to my keys and that parts and labor generally run in the $700 range. I have no issues doing it myself, but I was told it needed to be programmed with software that only the dealer had access.

 

The column lock is about $275 and no programming is required. Your existing keys will work. Labor is only 1.5 hours so I don't know how he came up with $700. If the wheel is locked, you might need the shift lock cable too, but still no programming is needed. If it was a parts counter guy, he may not actually know what goes into fixing it.

 

Turn the key back towards you (counterclockwise) till the shifter becomes movable. You may also notice other things aren't working as well. Radio, lights etc.