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column ignition switch

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Woodie

Woodie

Jedi Warrior
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Today the barrel holding my key came out of the body of the switch. The car was running and continued running. I pushed the barrel back in place and unless I push the key and barrel all the wayagainst the spring load it spins in place. When pushed in it will work just fine. I have never taken apart an ignition switch but is there some scre or cir clip that holds the barrel in place. ?? Any body hae a diagram, I cannot find one
 
Woodie,

If I remember right, there should be a small phillips screw on the bottom that holds the switch into the column lock.
 
I had the exact same problem recently, and decided to replace the whole switch. My switch also wouldn't engage the starter, so the p.o. put a button on the dash. I decided I wanted to go back to the way it was originally. I found (am finding, actually) that the switch is a little harder to replace than I thought. I had to remove the steering column to get the cowl off, and then noticed that at the switch there are no bolts to remove to get it off. It appears the factory tightens the bolts down, then cuts them off to prevent theft or something. I tried drilling them out, but have not had any success. The bit barely makes a dimple in the steel. Now I wish I could just fix the barrel and be done with it. Just like you, I can't figure out what was holding the barrel in there in the first place!
 
i put a button in the cig lighter hole...
wired to the relay.....
youd be hard pressed to prove it dont
belong there ; )
ALOT cheaper than a new switch...z
 
[ QUOTE ]
I had to remove the steering column to get the cowl off, and then noticed that at the switch there are no bolts to remove to get it off. It appears the factory tightens the bolts down, then cuts them off to prevent theft or something. I tried drilling them out, but have not had any success.

[/ QUOTE ]

Take a Dremel tool & cut screwdriver slots in what's left of the bolts where the factory broke them off....then, use a large flat screwdriver to back them off...when you install the new ignition, replace them with regular Phillips head bolts.
 
holy smokes, all this about how to keep the key barrel in the switch. What held it there originally and if it broke how do you fix it. The key still works, the steering wheel still locks. Maybe As a security feature I can take the key barrel with me.
 
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