Accessing the ignition switch, 75 Corvette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 108
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From: woodinville washington
Accessing the ignition switch, 75 Corvette
If I want to test and verify that I have a faulty ignition switch where can I jumper it out? Can I install a jumper from the 'IGN 'at the fuse block, and where would you suggest I pickup voltage from.
Lastly, if a faulty switch, what is the easiest way to access it for replacement or adjustment? Laying on the floorboard looking up I can't easily get to it....Thanks in advance.
Lastly, if a faulty switch, what is the easiest way to access it for replacement or adjustment? Laying on the floorboard looking up I can't easily get to it....Thanks in advance.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,384
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Pull the bolts that hold the column up and let it droop down a little. Once it's in the droopy position, you can get a 5/16" box wrench onto the 2 screws that hold the ignition switch to the top of the column. Once you have the 2 screws out, the whole switch will fall down and be accessible so you can probe it out. Often the switch is not at fault - it's simply out of adjustment. You can stick a small screwdriver in the slot and pull it to test it.
Lars
Lars
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
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From: Saginaw Michigan
When you remove the two vertical bolts that hold the column up into the dash, do not let it just hang! Place some books (or other support material) on the front seat so that the steering wheel rim rests on them. If the column is left to hang, you will find that the actual support is now at the lower bearing and the steering gear input shaft. You could cause the lower bearing and/or the plastic bearing adapter on the lower end of the steering column to fail or worse yet, the lower end of the column jacket could fail.
Jim
Jim
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Jim's right. When I said to pull the bolts and "let it droop down a little" I didn't mean to let the column hang unsupported by the forward end of the column. On cars where the steering wheel cannot be supported using some blankets or phone books on the seat, I've used some good ol' bailin' wire and hung the column from the dash crossbrace or pedal support structure after it comes down a little. It doesn't have to come down far in order to get to the 5/16" head screws holding the ignition switch - on some cars you can get your wrench and fingers up there without dropping the column at all.
Lars
