ignition not shutting off
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Joined: Nov 2005
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ignition not shutting off
We drove the vette yesterday to around went on freeway drove total of 40 minutes. When we stopped we tried turning the keys to shut it off and it did, but the ignition switch on the steering collum wont turn all the way back, leaving us with a car that can be started without keys by simply turning the switch 
. I am afriad to try and twist the thing to hard, but have spent about 2 hours trying to get the thing to move back. Any ideas on how to fix this dilema?
. I am afriad to try and twist the thing to hard, but have spent about 2 hours trying to get the thing to move back. Any ideas on how to fix this dilema?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
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I had a similar issue (69) where the ignition switch would not go into ACC...also,occasionally,it would just quit..no power...
Think my issue was the rod being out of adjustment...ended up replacing the switch,(not the lock tumbler)re-adjusting.....fine now..
Good luck..
Think my issue was the rod being out of adjustment...ended up replacing the switch,(not the lock tumbler)re-adjusting.....fine now..
Good luck..
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 168
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From: Florence NJ
Most likely this is the infamous interlock cable problem. Open up the hood and look on the driver side fire wall, under the brake booster. You are looking for the lever on the steering shaft (it sticks out toward the motor). There is a cable that attaches to this lever. You will have to do one of two things:
A) try to push the lever up
or
B) if the lever will not push up, disconnect the cable and then push the lever up.
Here is what happens. That cable seems to get kinked. It connects to that lever on the shaft and then down to the transmission. The kink forms down by the trans when the cable gets worn and gooped up. Onces it kinks the lever on the shaft will not go all the way up and the steering column does not know the car is in park. The kink is visible by crawling under the car and inspecting the cables to the trans on the shift lever.
A) try to push the lever up
or
B) if the lever will not push up, disconnect the cable and then push the lever up.
Here is what happens. That cable seems to get kinked. It connects to that lever on the shaft and then down to the transmission. The kink forms down by the trans when the cable gets worn and gooped up. Onces it kinks the lever on the shaft will not go all the way up and the steering column does not know the car is in park. The kink is visible by crawling under the car and inspecting the cables to the trans on the shift lever.
Last edited by jeckel; Jun 20, 2006 at 05:15 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
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From: Florence NJ
Originally Posted by rihwoods
OOPS..sorry..mine is a manual transmission..don't know squat about automatics...
What year is your vette ? Do you have Tilt telescoping or standard steering column ? All this makes a difference..
What year is your vette ? Do you have Tilt telescoping or standard steering column ? All this makes a difference..
The interlock cable problem on an automatic is a problem on T/T and Standard columns.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
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From: Florence NJ
Originally Posted by dwncchs
I'm still not sure if I have a clear picture--but if your key came out without being in the lock position the lock cyl. is bad and must be replaced.
I thought the same thing on the 74 I'm working on now with an auto trans. I took the whole column apart and changed lock cylinder and the rack with no luck. It wound up being a kinked inlterlock cable going from the trany to the lever on the steering shaft.
Just much easier to check under the car and see of that cable is kinked first imo. that is if this is an auto trans.
What do you think?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by jeckel
dwncchs,
I thought the same thing on the 74 I'm working on now with an auto trans. I took the whole column apart and changed lock cylinder and the rack with no luck. It wound up being a kinked inlterlock cable going from the trany to the lever on the steering shaft.
Just much easier to check under the car and see of that cable is kinked first imo. that is if this is an auto trans.
What do you think?
I thought the same thing on the 74 I'm working on now with an auto trans. I took the whole column apart and changed lock cylinder and the rack with no luck. It wound up being a kinked inlterlock cable going from the trany to the lever on the steering shaft.
Just much easier to check under the car and see of that cable is kinked first imo. that is if this is an auto trans.
What do you think?
Without a doubt check that cable first,I was only adding to what you had said.Sometimes trying to force the key lock back is because of the cable not returning.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Jacksonville FL
Manual transmissions have an interlock too. you have to put it in reverse to get the key out.
don't remember if it's a cable or a rod that connects the trans to the stering column, but you can have a similar problem with manual trans.
if somebody has removed the cable or rod, you need to do something to hold the lever on the steering column just under the brake master cylinder in the unlock position.
hope this helps,
Mike.
don't remember if it's a cable or a rod that connects the trans to the stering column, but you can have a similar problem with manual trans.
if somebody has removed the cable or rod, you need to do something to hold the lever on the steering column just under the brake master cylinder in the unlock position.
hope this helps,
Mike.
Race Director
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Originally Posted by jeckel
Just Fyi,
The interlock cable problem on an automatic is a problem on T/T and Standard columns.
The interlock cable problem on an automatic is a problem on T/T and Standard columns.
Last edited by rihwoods; Jun 20, 2006 at 11:33 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
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From: Florence NJ
Originally Posted by rihwoods
I was not stepping on you...was only stating my experience with manual tranny's...besides,I overlooked the fact the poster had not mentioned auto/manual or tilt/standard....I realized that after seeing your post....sorry for the mis-understanding...
I didn't think you were stepping on me. I just want to clear up that the silly interlock cable is a problem on t/t and standard columns.
Ryan92663,
Look for the lever I am talking about under the brake booster. Pull the pin behind the cable and disconect the cable from the lever. Now try to move the lever up towards you. This will put the column in the park position. It is very easy to do and takes very little time.
You do not need to reconnect the interlock cable to lever. In fact unless you plan to replace it, you should not reconnect it (you will only have the same issue again). If you plan on just eliminating it, then you need to make a little braket of some sort to hold the lever in the up or Park position at all times.
Let us know how you make out.
Jim
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Originally Posted by jeckel
rihwoods,
I just want to clear up that the silly interlock cable is a problem on t/t and standard column...
Jim
I just want to clear up that the silly interlock cable is a problem on t/t and standard column...
Jim
Rich
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yep it was the interlock, turns out some PO took out the cable, but didnt make a bracket to keep it up. It probably moved when we were driving, thus causing the key problem. Thanks forum for all the help! .... now if there was only some quick fix like that for the running lights
.... now if there was only some quick fix like that for the running lights