ignition switch problem

[zach44102]

today i started tearing into the steering colum to replace my broken ignition switch. well i picked up the new ignition switch and pulled the old one out and put the new one in and nothing changed... the key will turn the car over but will not turn the car off. i can turn the key all the way backwards and take the key out and the car will remain running. whats the problem?

please help me!!

 

[sperold]

To be clear, have you taken the key cylinder out and changed it. Or have you taken the actual switch out and replaced the switch, and re-installed your old key cylinder?

 

[zach44102]

new key cylinder and key switch i think... its labled as an ignition lock... but my old one seems to work fine with it out. it just dosent grab when you want to turn the car off

 

[sperold]

The different positions on your ignition switch represent different functions.... off, accessories, on, start.
Does your key, when you turn it, feel these positions in the switch?

 

[zach44102]

well with the key assembly out even the new one spins freely.... does that mean the new one is bad?

 

[zach44102]

anybody?

 

[sperold]

If the ignition switch doesn't have that indexing, I would take it to show somebody and get an opinion.
The ignition lock name is throwing me off... maybe we are not talking about the same thing and I don't know enough about that part to have any advice.
I have always been able to fix any problems in that area by changing the key cylinder, and I found that even doing that had lots of problems.

 

[Racer X]

The ignition lock (which is the thing you stick the key in) is not the same thing as the ignition switch.

Ignition lock cylinder:

Ignition Switch:

Which did you replace?

 

[zach44102]

i replaced the lock cyllinder..... i went and picked another up from advanced because i thought the new one defective.. well the guy there took it apart and the pins and springs fell out so i think its defective too.. tomorow ill pick up another and see what happens.. the lock cyllinder will turn the car on but not off. i can even take the key out and it still runs. im starting to think its the ignition switch... but on another hand there is a metal prong that hooks into the lock cyllinder..... what does that go to because it has a hard time staying in there... the plastic clip is broken.

 

[kevinspann]

Now that he took the switch apart and all the pins fell out of the right places its defective. I'll pull mine out and look down in there tomorrow to see how things operate. Sounds like you have something broken in the column.

 

[kevinspann]

Oh, and that metal prong should be for the "keys in ignition" chime.

 

[Racer X]

i replaced the lock cyllinder.....

*sigh*

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?p=1200258#post1200258

I don't even...

 

[kevinspann]

Isn't there a rod that actuates the ignition switch? Seems like that would be broken on his car. It can push down to start it, but not pull back to cut it off.

 

[Racer X]

The linkage rod is possibly broken, but it's more common for the switch itself to fail in the manner that Zach has described.

 

[zach44102]

well thankyou for the responds.... when i pick up my new lock cyllinder tomorow ill let you know what happens... on another note where can i find a ignition switch

 

[jonheese]

well thankyou for the responds.... when i pick up my new lock cyllinder tomorow ill let you know what happens... on another note where can i find a ignition switch

*sigh*

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?p=1200258#post1200258

I don't even...

 

[kevinspann]

Any auto parts store should have them. Do you have your original lock cylinder? Might as well just use it again.

 

[jonheese]

Any auto parts store should have them. Do you have your original switch? Might as well just use it again.

Kevin, didn't you mean "Do you have your original lock cylinder"?

 

[kevinspann]

Kevin, didn't you mean "Do you have your original lock cylinder"?

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Willis?

Though, it could be what I may or may not have said. It could also be "ignition lock cylinder"

 

[hawkeye18]

Same place you found the ignition lock cylinder, dude. Look like, two listings down.

Since you seem to be having trouble understanding what everybody else is saying:

CHANGE YOUR IGNITION SWITCH! IT'S NOT THE LOCK CYLINDER!