My 88 Camaro key will not come out. I believe its the tumber. My son forced the key to turn and he broke something inside. the key will not come out and will not turn all the way back to the acc position. it will start the car. i tried to seach the problem on the forums, but they seem to have i differnt problem.
I started to take the steering wheel of but i am at a stand still with this black cover.Does anyone know how to take this off?
Thank you Rick

Ps What is the VATS system? Does my 88 have it?

 

it just slides off, may have to pry on it a little

 

There's a lock plate remover tool you need. It presses down on the plate so you can take out that silver ring you see at the bottom of the shaft. It's spring loaded so you can't just pry it out until you remove the tension. Probably has Vats. Does your key have that little black thing with the silver horizontal line between the handle and the serrated part of the key ? That's the VATS resistor pellet

 

1988 doesn't have VATS. Lock cylinder is about $20. May need to realign the ignition switch once the lock cylinder is removed.

You will need to unscrew the turn signal lever and windshield wiper switch from the turn signal switch and unscrew the turn switch to gain access. You may need to check the gear and rack for the ignition actuator rod to see if anything possibly broke (just cheap aluminum). You'll need a T20 torx screwdriver to remove the screw holding the cylinder and a small (for glasses or something) screwdriver to remove the key-in-ignition buzzer switch.

 

the lock plate is under the black plastic. the black plastic will slide off the lock ring without the tool. but yea you "need" the lock ring tool to get it off. i see "need" because ive taken it off before with some ingenuity, a big cresent wrench, a pair of vise grips, and the shaft nut....

 

Thank you everyone . I had to put the steering wheel back on to move the car. But when i did i moved the gear shifter and the key turned off and it came right out. i wonder if there is an adjustment that would cause the key not to lock? Or was it just dum luck? Again thank you....Rick

 

some cars have an interlock that keeps you from turning the key without the trans in either park or neutral. ive never owned an auto third gen so i have no clue if they have one, but most likely that was the issue.