'71 ignition switch not locking and smoking
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
'71 ignition switch not locking and smoking
Hi all,
Key started getting hard to turn back to "lock" position and then wouldn't go back at all. Also noticed it now goes into reverse very easy since. (Could still drive it-and key always did come out no matter the switch position)
Driving it today, smoke started coming out the steering column! Shut it off and coasted till it stopped then started the engine again until it started smoking again. Limped home that way, but I think it stopped towards the end.
Figured something wrong in the steering column. Tore it apart down to the section with the key, but the wires attached to the turn signal are in the way- don't seem to disconnect. And I can't figure out how to get the lock cylinder out from here or the rest of the "middle" part of the column to see what shorted.
The cable that attaches to the reverse input is bent up 'cause it won't slide into its sheath. The lever at the firewall where the cable attaches won't turn on the column.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated at this point! Thanks.
Dave Kunkle
Key started getting hard to turn back to "lock" position and then wouldn't go back at all. Also noticed it now goes into reverse very easy since. (Could still drive it-and key always did come out no matter the switch position)
Driving it today, smoke started coming out the steering column! Shut it off and coasted till it stopped then started the engine again until it started smoking again. Limped home that way, but I think it stopped towards the end.
Figured something wrong in the steering column. Tore it apart down to the section with the key, but the wires attached to the turn signal are in the way- don't seem to disconnect. And I can't figure out how to get the lock cylinder out from here or the rest of the "middle" part of the column to see what shorted.
The cable that attaches to the reverse input is bent up 'cause it won't slide into its sheath. The lever at the firewall where the cable attaches won't turn on the column.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated at this point! Thanks.
Dave Kunkle
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Thought maybe cable was seized- turns out it got bent into a "U" at the tranny 'cause it was jamming at the column. Cable moves freely and I can now get the switch to go to the lock position, but it's iffy so far with the column torn apart- something must be worn or got out of alignment to make it kink the cable like that. Now I'm not sure if the smoke was related or a different prob- seems too coincidental though.
