Hey yall, so I recently got a 92 RS that came swapped with a 355 and 5 speed. It won’t start without an ignition bypass since I’ve had it, even though the guy I got it from was able to start it with just the ignition when I picked it up. I think I need to replace the ignition cylinder but I’m unsure if I have VATS or not. Unfortunately the ignition cylinder doesn’t have a key and was able to start without a key before, and also it’s not stuck in place, you can just pull it right out without removing anything so I’m assuming whatever holds it in place was broken. Since I can pull it out I see there’s no wire but there is a button on it next to where the key goes and I’m just curious what it’s for or if it’s important. I’m trying to figure out which replacement ignition cylinder to buy and I’m not sure.

Thanks
-James

 

Bump. Any help would be very appreciated!
Also I did pull the ignition cylinder out and look at it again and it looks like there was a wire cut off of it.

 

89-92 came with VATS, so your car has it (or had it). The cut wires on the cylinder are for VATS.

And to secure the cylinder into the column, there's a wide slot/groove on the underside of the cylinder, and there's supposed to be a "pin," more like a small "post," that slides into that slot/groove to hold it into the column so you can't pull it out. LOTS of pictures on the net of VATS ignition cylinders, but here's one I found that clearly shows the wide perpendicular slot/groove in the metal on the bottom of the cylinder for the post that slides into it to secure it in the column. There should also be a "clip" for the tonal warning sound.



Sounds like someone before you really did a number on the ignition system and some parts are missing. I don't remember looking to see if your location is on your profile, but if you don't have a repair manual, any brand will do in this case, then if there are any junkyards near you, if there's a 3rdgen with the steering column intact, then disassemble it, and you'll see the parts and how they all come out and go back together, and if you break something, well, that's why you're practicing on a junkyard car lol.

 

Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback! Somebody else told me that since my distributor has a vacuum advance that my ecm is not doing anything and the vats should not matter. So I’m curious again why my car won’t start if it’s not a vats issue. My ignition cylinder does look a little different from the picture you shared though and it doesn’t have that pin… when I go to get a new one can I get a regular one without vats or do I have to get another vats one and cut the wire? And I’m wondering if I get a new one if it’s even going to fix my issue, the only way I can get the car to start at the moment is with a bypass hooked up.