Well, seems I sent you on a wild goose chase...

What I did was send you a link to a recent post which contained a link to Volvo's on-line owner's manual. It was a manual for a 93 240. Ah, these confusers. It is here:

http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/1993/1993_240/93240_1.html#contents

On page 103, under Long Distance Trips and Cold Weather, they say:

"Use Volvo Teflon lock spray of grease in the locks. "

However it is the door locks being spoken of. It surprised me, because I've long been under the impression locks with tiny springs and sliding brass cylinders eventually become clogged with dirt when oil or grease is introduced. The same theory would seem to apply to the ignition lock, its only advantage being placed out of the weather.

Instead, I've read what I deem a consensus of advice, to use graphite powder. Following that is advice to use a light silicone lube. WD-40 wasn't on the list, but hey, that's what most of us have handy for sticky wickets. So it was, as I mentioned, surprising to read about the grease, Teflon or not.

On page 14, Volvo says "The steering wheel lock may be under tension when the car is parked. Turn the steering wheel slightly to free the ignition key. "

If you were to see how that column lock works, you'd know even those living on the streets of San Francisco would do well to take heed of this advice. On the later 240's the ignition lock is press fit on the collapsible steering column. To reach it well enough to dig out the pin retaining the lock's mechanics deserves your "hellacious" descriptive.

The airbag on a 240 is only powered through the ignition switch, and after that for seconds only, through the storage capacitor under the driver's seat. The airbag will be disabled shortly after you've pulled the key out, long before you can get the screws out of the ignition switch. But those are only the first few steps needed to access the springs and tumblers of that ignition lock.

So far with the hundreds of thousands of miles we've put on our 240s, I've not yet encountered the sticky lock that wasn't a result of tension on the steering lock.

--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A Stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet.