If you lived a little closer to me, I would gladly give you $1K for it :)

Since your hubby has more finger strength than you do and you have a spare key, here's my suggestion:

Take off the steering wheel cover.
Put the key into pos I.
Bang the heck out of the steering column to dislodge the metal that broke. rubber mallot or bottom of palm should be enough force.
AND then try forcing the key past pos I, multiple times.

If you break the key, use a safety pin to get the key out after turning the lock back to pos 0 with a screwdriver.

What do you have to lose? You can still drive the car using a screwdriver to start the engine, just turn the ignition switch with a flat screwdriver. Make sur the key is in posI of course :)


There has to be a junk yard around San Jose that has a rear bumper cover with the correct color.
Drive axles are not that hard to swap out.
And replacing the O2 sensor is not that hard, a little PB Blaster goes a long way to helping the front O2 sensor come loose.

Klaus
--
Praying for Cynthia Amendt, heaven bound