Well yesterday the key got stuck in the lock position, couldent turn it at all. So today I replaced the ignition lock cylinder and now it is stuck in the run position, it wont let me turn it to lock so I can get the key out. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

Sounds like its your Starter Switch. Drop your steering column to get to it. It's on the top of the column kind of towards the bottom. Could be worn out.

 

are you referring to the ignition switch? Is there a way to test it or do I just replace it?

 

(As i smack myself in the head) Yeah its the ignition switch. You can bench test it by removing it and seeing if you can move the internals.. There is basically a long L shaped metal rod that hooks in and slides contact points around. Thats would be my educated guess. "Even though I cant remember to tell you the correct part name"

 

thanks, I'll check it out tommrow when I get out of work.

 

hopefully its not the actuator rack or sector gear

these are what are mechanised by the ignition switch and in turn pull and push on the ign switch rod




they are made of cheapo pot metal and like to break and ive seen it happen a few times and i even have an 85 column right now this happened to, the actuator rack busted apart in it and i have the column totally apart right now so that i can replace the actuator rack, pulling the tilt pins out is kinda interesting hmm


good luck

 

well It turns out that the ignition switch had just slid back. I loosened up the 8mm bolt that holds it in place and slide it forward and now its working perfectly. Makes me wish I dug a little further before going out and buying a ignition cylinder lock Now if I could only figure out how the turn signal mechanisim went back together...

 

got it all back together and everythings perfect. Thanks for the help.

 

Glad to hear it. I'd hate to have a thirdgenner sitting parked just because of a loose bolt.

 

Hey Fast68,

I took my 84 TA to a so-called mechanic and he (or one of his apprentices) totally f**ked up the ignition, I explained to him to push the lever on the column to get the barrel to lock posiiton, but he didn't tell the young guys, so they forced it and broke it.

I took it apart, and one of the teeth on the sector gear is broken, so it keeps jumping. How did you get the column covers apart to get to the sector gear? I tried everything (within reason!), but they stayed stuck together.

Where did you get your sector gear from? I checked Classic Industries website and found part number G5007. It says 78 to 81, but as I understand it, this lock setup was used until the late 80's.

Thanks,

 

I got an 89 rs and my buddy borrowed it and he called me and said my car wont start. It has had this problem off and on like the vats wasnt reading the pellet in the key. Today when I turned the key it didnt have any tension on it whatsoever in the start position it doesnt spring back to on. I took the wheel off and all that mess and I saw an L shaped baling wire size linkage hanging out not connected to anything on the left side. Is this the linkage to my starter switch?

 

Sounds like the notorious linkage.. that would be why there is no "Spring" in your lock cylinder. Ignition Switch linkage can be a pain but its pretty straight forward to fix.

 

where does it connect to the actuater assembly and what does it connect too under the dash

 

For where it connects to the lock cylinder check up a few posts for a picture. There is a hole on the side of the ignition switch that the end of the L shaped rod slides into.

 

well this is the bad part my rod is closer to the wheel than where the ignition switch actuator rack arrow is pointing and also I see 2 rods under my dash.

 

chevy parts counter, or pull one from another column