95 ignition switch problems

[fordlover]

Hi
I'm new to this forum and am a Ford lover for years now. The wife and I passed on our Aspire to our youngest son when he got his license a year ago. Needles to say, he has treated it rather rough this last year and it's lost much of it's value. The ignition switch is getting real picky about when it wants to accept the key to start it. I suspect the switch is getting worn out and needs replacing. If you leave the key in it, it will work everytime, but if you remove the key it takes a lot of fiddling and cussing to get it to unlock the steering wheel and start the car. Is there a way to "break" the switch so that it will accept any key to unlock and start? I know this is a rather rash fix but the car has been beat up by my son and I can't see putting anymore labor/money into it and I really don't want have it sitting somewhere with a key in the ignition. As long a we are the only ones that know it will start with any key, then he can continue using his key as normal without leaving it in the ignition.
Thanks for your help/advice.

[md9680]

Perhaps, and this is just a thought that I'm certain has occurred to you, this is yet another opportunity for your son to become acquainted with real world issues involving the expense of keeping a car on the road. If he has to shell out hard-earned cash just for an ignition switch... Why, think of what it must cost to rebuild clutches and transmissions. Oh, and tires and brakes and... You get the idea.

This from empty-nesters who've already gone through it all with their children.