Randy,

After I got home I looked at the ignition cylinder. It looks as if the black plastic piece on the outside of the cylinder is able to rotate a full 360 degrees around, something that I DEFINATELY do not remember it doing before.

If I turn the key alone without putting pressure on that plastic U piece, the car starts fine, nothing sticks. If I turn it via that plastic piece, it DOES stick.

Im thinking it might not be the key cylinder or the gear but it might in fact be that little black do-hickey that is causing it to jam. I would think that it would be somehow bound to the actual cylinder, that way it turns WITH the cylinder rather than separate from the key cylinder.

Thoughts?