i just picked up my 94 cherokee, the first time i went to take the key out it wouldnt come, i called the guy i bought it from and he said in the glove box is an awl, use it to pull the blue tab on the column and the key will turn and come out. any perminet fixes to this? i was thinking for temp pull the cluster bezel and hold the blue tab forward with some jb.

 

possible you might need to replace steering column maybe.

 

Auto Trans I take it? Manual may have it too, but my only experience with this problem is with my 93 and it is an automatic. Ball pops out of it's socket just on top of the steering column on the side opposite the key. I had to pull the instrument cluster cover...4 screws...to see it. Mine was caused by wear in the ball-socket and a shifter cable out of adjustment. Pushed the ball back into the socket and followed the Haynes manual on adjusting the cable. No problems since. This is part of the safety ignition/shifter lock-out.

Greg

 

"Pushed the ball back into the socket" - This also happened to my first owned XJ before... And its also what I did to solve this problem...