My girlfriend has a 1997 Grand Prix and her ignition tumbler (lock cylinder) will not return to the starting (locked) position when I turn the car off. Additionally the car has been dying and I've discovered the battery is shot. Also, when I DO manage to get the cylinder back into the locked position and open the door I get the "dinging" sound, as if I left my lights on (but I haven't). Now, I am officially unable to return the ignition lock cylinder back to the locked position once again. My question is, are all 3 of these symptoms related? If so, what caused my battery to keep draining and die completely, the ignition lock cylinder? It goes far enough to turn all accessories off, but not into the locking position. I can take the key out and still turn it. I contemplated pulling a lock cylinder from a wrecking yard, but realized that I would need a key to go with it. If I pulled a lock cylinder from a wrecking yard, what would be the most cost-effective way to get a key made for it? Is this even what I should be doing for this problem or something else entirely? Thanks for any direction you can hopefully give me.
