I have an 85 with a T5 tranny and the ignition switch on the column has a lock lever that has to be depressed to turn the switch completely off.

1. Does ayone else have one with this lever? Is it only with manuals?
2. My GM shop manual says that there is an accessory position but there doesn't seem to be. You have to turn the switch to "run" in order to listen to the radio. Is this right??? The switch does not go back past "Lock". First one forward is nothing (no power) and second is "run", third is "start".

Any help would be appreciated.

 

1)Yes (assuming you're talking about the one on the pic below).Seems to be a manual trans/ thing.
2)It seems to be a 50/50 hit/miss weather the accy position works. Many theories why the accy position doesn't work, none concrete.. crappy production tolerances gets my vote though.
I've had my bird for 10 yrs now, 2nd owner, never an accy position. Test drove a few, some worked, some didn't. Camaro's seem to have the better odds of working then not. I'm no expert though and, just my opinion....

 

Thanks for the input deadbird. Yup, that is the lever I am referring to. So on the ones that you experienced the "accessory", was it backwards from the "lock" position (the position you have to depress the lever to get into? Was it labelled? Were any of them on manuals or all on automatics?

 

how about checking your adjustment on the ingnition switch on the lower column, could be off a little.

jeff

 

The accy position works just like any GM car, turn back from lock and you have radidio power.
I haven't been in lots of manual cars (since they are rare in my area) but, the 4 I have (including mine), 2 worked, an 84 and 88, and 2 didn't mine obvious, and an 86.
My camaro (91) has a button on the outer ign cyl to release the key, accy position works.
I've yet to see this lock on an auto, owning and junkyard alike (put 3 diff columns from auto's in my old 84 camaro).

I believe it more a problem between the ignition cyl & the lever itself as I have replaced the switch on my firebird in past years with no change of getting it into the accy position.
I do know the button has to be pressed on my camaro to turn the cyl back for accy. The 84, no, the 88 yes. Mine and the 86... didn't matter how you screwed w/it... no luck.

I can't think of any (mass made) car line in the 80's known for it's stringent production tolerances (even corvette probaly had their fair share of turds but, I've never really been in any to know)

 

How do you do that??? Never done it before....

 

just curious though, on the ones that worked, was "ACC" labeled or just "Lock"??? Just wondering if that could be an indication....

 

i looked in my 82 and it has LOCK position and it wont go any farther back than that

but...

my lock cylinder is out of a truck

its so worn out that you can take the key out after you unlock it with the key

the thumb thingy metal piece busted off the end of the cylinder recently

and the lock pin screw that retains the whole cylinder in the column housing is gone or something, i was able to pull the original righgt out of the column easily when i got the car and lost the key so thats why i have a worn out 70s chrome metal cylidner in my 82 column now, but now it wont come out of the column so that i can replace it with another one i have a key for here thats not worn or missing the thumb deal,

ahhhhhhhh!

oh well,

no one knows that it only taske a pocketknife or whatever to turn the cylinder

the column and housing itself is in nice shape no scratches or prymarks like usually seen in these cars around here

good luck

 

on my camaro 89 to get just the radio on i have to go so slow turning tword on...and it takes sometimes you have to do it 2x to get it...but on mine its not backwards its forward just very slow right b4 alll the accessories turn on including fuel pump...

 

yeah you can do that. push it half way to the run poss. but on my 84 camaro it's was a auto all i had to do is push the key in and twist it back but i'm to lazy for that and just push it forward partly

 

So I tore the column apart on the weekend and it turns out the cylinder is pooched. It is jammed or something and will not under any circumstances go backwards. It might have something to do with wear since the key comes out too in any position. The Key in switch actuator does not pop up properly eithter. When out I stuck the pliers in the column and turned the rod actuator and it go back one position. The radio works in that position so there definitely is supposed to be an ACC position on this car.

Wonder how much a new lock cylinder costs?

 

about $30 kragen or autozone stocks these

 

Cool, thanks!

 

Where in the world did you guys pay $30 for a lock cylinder? I just bought one last month (which I finally installed two days ago.. no more pullin the key out with the engine running!) for less than $20 at AutoZone.

BTW, anyone know where I can get a replacement buzzer switch? I broke mine removing it... Also, how the he11 does it work? Mine never seemed to work!

 

Are you referring to the "key-in" switch? If so, there is a little actuator tip on the lock cylinder that pushes out when the key is in certain positions. The actuator tip pushes the 2 contacts together in the key-in switch.

It is really basic so I would assume it would be dirt cheap if available. Try GM. If not you can definitely score one at the wreckers....probably from any 80's GM car.

 

My 84 camaro with the T5 has that lever and acc works by pressing the ign in and back.

 

Yah... I tried that before I broke it... it didn't work...

I have to grab a spare column anyways...

 

fogot to mention i bought a whole master set...it included to matched doors and trunk lock...and ignition.

 

Well, after running to the junkyard this morning and getting burned AGAIN ($50! But I also nabbed myself a radio pod and a bunch of interior trim while at it so its a good deal) I have a working column that's TIGHT and has a good key-in switch.

I spent two hours switching parts between the two columns (damn lock rings!) because the junkyard unit had non-delay wipers and no ign key (just bought a new lock.. better use it!) and now everything's peachy.