This is usually caused by sticking key cylinder plunger/s. Since you cannot turn the cylinder, you cannot turn it to "ON" position and therefore cannot remove the cylinder. One trick that I used twice successfully in my 30 years owning a wrangler is this:
The strategy is to shake things up in the cylinder and hopefully free the sticking plunger or plungers.
1. With key removed, hold a piece of wood, plastic or nylon against the cylinder visible portion to protect it against impacts
2. Using a vibrating tool pressed against the piece of wood, plastic or nylon, create a vibration in the cylinder
3. Insert the key and try to turn switch to "ON" position. If successful, remove the cylinder by pressing the locking cylinder tab by inserting a tool through the hole provided under the steering column cover (see other thread for help if needed)
4. Once removed soak the cylinder in cleaner like carb cleaner, then dry fully by blowing air on it, and re-install the cylinder
A) The first time I used an air compressor hammer for one second. Because of the power of the tool I barely used it against the protecting wood piece without pressure
B) The second time (yesterday) I used an oscillating multi-tool with the side of the cutting blade against the protecting piece of wood, nylon or plastic for 2 seconds. This would be my preferred method.
In both instances I was successful in freeing the stuck plunger
C) Other options could be to use a small orbiting sander with the side pressed against the protecting piece of wood or drill an off center hole a small cylinder of wood or nylon and using an electrical drill press the rotating cylinder against the protecting piece of wood, nylon or plastic. I did not try these two last options.
The idea is shake things up in the cylinder
Good luck!
The strategy is to shake things up in the cylinder and hopefully free the sticking plunger or plungers.
1. With key removed, hold a piece of wood, plastic or nylon against the cylinder visible portion to protect it against impacts
2. Using a vibrating tool pressed against the piece of wood, plastic or nylon, create a vibration in the cylinder
3. Insert the key and try to turn switch to "ON" position. If successful, remove the cylinder by pressing the locking cylinder tab by inserting a tool through the hole provided under the steering column cover (see other thread for help if needed)
4. Once removed soak the cylinder in cleaner like carb cleaner, then dry fully by blowing air on it, and re-install the cylinder
A) The first time I used an air compressor hammer for one second. Because of the power of the tool I barely used it against the protecting wood piece without pressure
B) The second time (yesterday) I used an oscillating multi-tool with the side of the cutting blade against the protecting piece of wood, nylon or plastic for 2 seconds. This would be my preferred method.
In both instances I was successful in freeing the stuck plunger
C) Other options could be to use a small orbiting sander with the side pressed against the protecting piece of wood or drill an off center hole a small cylinder of wood or nylon and using an electrical drill press the rotating cylinder against the protecting piece of wood, nylon or plastic. I did not try these two last options.
The idea is shake things up in the cylinder
Good luck!