removing the ignition switch

[fennerford]

My ignition switch in my 79 camaro just died and i was wondering if anyone knew how to remove it? there is no steering column cover to take off that i see. Thanks for any help

[Tim Baillie]

You have to disassemble the column to get to the screw to get the ignition switch out.

What is it doing ? It's rarely the key cylinder.....90% of the time its the little pot metal piece that the key turns and pushes the actual switch at the base of the column.....

There is basically 4 components to your ignition switch, the key cylinder, the pot metal piece, the rod going down the column and the actual switch near the base that all the wiring goes into.

[fennerford]

power is getting to the ignition but when you turn the key it doesn't do anything

[Tim Baillie]

Is the key a little "looser" now when turning but it doesn't click or do anything ?

On top of the column, there are two rods, one more on top then the other (the other is the high beam switch) with some pliers, try to slide that rod and see if it starts the car, if it does then it's the ignition cam.

I will find a link I have on replacing that part. GM sells a column repair kit and it comes with that and a few other things.

To get to that you will need to borrow or buy some steering wheel and column tools to do it.

[fennerford]

the key isnt looser and the only to rods on the steering column are the blinkers and tilt. the key still clicks and goes to all the positions but nothing happens. we charged the battery and checked all the fuse and the electricity is goin up to the ignition just not coming out.

[Tim Baillie]

The two rods I'm talking about are the ones running down towards the firewall on the top of the column, not the levers.

[fennerford]

ok i'll try that

[Tim Baillie]

I dropped my column down so I could take a picture so you can see the rods.



The rod on the left is the ignition one, it attaches to the switch (at the base of the column) and the key cylinder.

If you take some pliers and slide the rod and it turns over or starts then it's the cam between the rod and the cylinder.

This is the cam inside the column.


This is what the cam looks like.


Let me know if that helps

[fennerford]

so if i push the rod and turn the key if it turns over its the cam. i can see the cam do i just replace it if it is the problem? or is there more to it

[Tim Baillie]

You won't have to turn the key if the cam is broken, just slide the rod.

You will have to take the whole column apart to replace that cam, but's pretty easy