Does anyone know w true part number for an ignition cylinder with 2 keys that retains the ability to turn backwards for accy power? I bought a cylinder on amazon which was a standard motor product brand, it installed fine and feels smooth. But I noticed right away that it does not function like the original. I had to change the cylinder due to attempted theft, I thought I could live with not having that function but this means that accy power is not being triggered unless the car is started. It should have accy power when you unlock the steering wheel, then ign, then start, plus allow me to turn the key counter clockwise with the car off.

 

When I first received my '84 T/A, I tried the accessory position on the ignition switch.
It did not want to function. After several more attempts, it began to work.
Guess the original owner, 1984-2019 never used the acc option.

 

When you have the new cylinder off of the car will it turn back from the position where you can remove the key? If it doesn't then the cylinder isn't right. If it does then use a needle nose and turn the gear in the column and see if it gives all of the positions. If it doesn't then the rack is out of time with the gear or the ignition switch at the bottom of the column is bad.

 

I never thought to try turning the key before installing the cylinder at that time. I assumed all the older style cylinders had this ability. The switch looked to be in perfect condition when I was inspecting for damage. Im not sure what you mean by turning the gear to make sure it gives me all the positions, Ill have to take it apart to familiarize myself to the inner workings again.

I think its just the wrong cylinder, but i dont want to order another cylinder without being able to tell which part number cylinder that has the accy position.

 

I think what they mean is:

• remove the cylinder
• reach into the hole it left behind and manually operate the thing the cylinder turns. Are you able to move it backwards to the accessory position as you remember? If YES then the cylinder is bad/wrong. If NO then either additional damage was caused by the attempted theft, or your memory is flawed.

The cylinder turns a mechanism ("gear"?) that pushes/pulls a rod that goes down your steering column in a plastic sleeve. That rod sides a switch forward and back. If you remove your lower kick panel to expose the bottom of the column you will be able to see this switch. This switch is what actually operates the electrical portion of what the key is doing. With this area exposed you can pull the rod out of the switch (carefully, as not to bend) and then manually operate the switch with an implement (short screwdriver, drift/punch, pair of pliers, a thin long bolt, even a sturdy ballpoint pen might work) and move it through its positions. You can start the car from here (assuming no VATs) and, if equipped, move the switch backwards to the accessory position.

That switch is held to the column with two screws, that are in slots not holes. If you loosen them a few turns you can move the switch. This allows you to change its position relative to the rod, and thus the key. If you slide this switch all the way down the column you may find yourself unable to turn the key far enough to start the car. Slide it too far up the column and you may not be able to reach the accessory position... see where this is going? You may just need to realign the switch. It is possible the thieves messed around enough to push it out of alignment, or that it simply happed over time as a coincidence, or that your new cylinder and old cylinder are not exactly the same and do not have the same range of motion.

I have seen cars get so messed up with this alignment that they could not start/run. Good luck with your repair.

 

The column was swapped from another car from a member here and I gave him back the key/ignition cylinder with the gta steering wheel with the radio buttons and it did turn backwards for accy. The ignition switch came with the column is in much better shape from a lower mileage car than my original and busted up column lol.

This was about 4 months ago when I put the new cylinder in to finally try to start the car once to load it onto the tow truck and ship it away for all the fab work and custom exhaust work and thats when I noticed the cylinder doesnt turn backwards. Now that its close to coming back home I wanted to at least order the right cylinder and swap it out. Im pretty sure its the wrong cylinder but I need to know which replacement cylinders are the right ones to buy, its not expensive at least.

 

I have installed a lot of those cylinders, I worked in a locksmith shop in 1969 when they came out. I can say they all work the same and I've not seen one that didn't turn back to accessory. Some you had to push in slightly. Remove the cylinder and try what's been suggested.

 

I tried pushing it in like its supposed to work and couldnt turn it backwards. Being a brand new key and cylinder i didnt want to break it but i was using a good bit of pressure. Looks like Ill have to take it apart again and see if its just an adjustment issue. is it possible I need to get a new ignition switch between and auto vs manual car..are there differences? i doubt it but the new column was from an auto car.

 

*Update*

I bought the ac delco cylinder #D1414B and out of the box it does turn counterclockwise for the acc mode. I removed the standard motors cylinder #us117lt and it does not turn counter clockwise. Without having to adjust the ignition switch positioning on the column itself..everything is working how it used to. It appears not all cylinders allow this to happen, its possible the one I got was just bad but considering there are several part numbers that dont list a specific year range other than it being a chrome cylinder or a black cylinder, I went with the cheaper one thinking it wouldnt really matter. I was wrong.

If the ac delco unit did not work out of the box and I had to mess with the ignition switch positioining, then I would assume it was just an installation issue. Now I know what to look for in the future.