The ignition key has been locked in the ignition/steering barrel for the last few week, refusing to come out. I've been putting off attacking it, as there were a few other things needing attention, first.
Anyway, today, i bit the bullet...
That lump on top of the assembly is part of shiftlock-III, which involves a steel cable linking the shift lever and the steering lock. If the key is not in the lock, you can't get the lever out of park.
If the lever is not in park, you can't take the key out of the lock. At least, that's the basic idea.
Add in 20years of dirt, grime, some water contamination, and different metals, and the result is that one day it doesn't do as advertised.
Added to the woes was a very sluggish return, which occasionally left the key in the start position- not good for starter or ring gear.
