Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 128
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From: Massena NY
Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help
I just got my vette out of storage today!took her up to the car wash and got her looking ready for the road, got her home, and then the ignition switch S*&% the bed!!! :mad :mad
I had a problem starting a couple times last fall before I put it away, but could get it to start if I jimmyed the wheel back and forth, (had to do that at the car wash today :mad ) now I can't even do that. She won't start! I think it's the ignition switch, so I got out my Haines manual (which pretty much sux, and gives very little detail on how to replace the switch and has no pics:mad ) and worked for about 3 hours with it and still don't have the F'n switch out. The manual says to lower the steering column, how is this done??? Do you have to lower the column to get the switch out? It looks to me like you do.
If anyone has any tips on how to do this without going postal, please I could use a little help with this one. Or if you don't think its my switch that is bad, let me know. Thanks for your help!!
I had a problem starting a couple times last fall before I put it away, but could get it to start if I jimmyed the wheel back and forth, (had to do that at the car wash today :mad ) now I can't even do that. She won't start! I think it's the ignition switch, so I got out my Haines manual (which pretty much sux, and gives very little detail on how to replace the switch and has no pics:mad ) and worked for about 3 hours with it and still don't have the F'n switch out. The manual says to lower the steering column, how is this done??? Do you have to lower the column to get the switch out? It looks to me like you do.
If anyone has any tips on how to do this without going postal, please I could use a little help with this one. Or if you don't think its my switch that is bad, let me know. Thanks for your help!!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 169
Likes: 2
From: Glen Aubrey NY
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (Sean Willard)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (Sean Willard)
Just went through this myself and it was a breaker that went by the starter so that no power was going from the starter to the coil or fuse box. I also thought that it was the ignition initially. Make sure that you test all of your wires to make sure one isn't broken or a fuse hasn't blown before taking the steering column apart.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 128
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From: Massena NY
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (EarnIt)
Thanks that does give a much greater detail, does anyone know what a "crossover bar" is? I already have my A/C duct out, and the vettefaq set also includes remove the crossover bar when you take out the A/C duct.
Thanks for the tips, I'll be sure to check all my wires, fuse etc. The stater is new, just put that in last fall, so that shouldn't be an issue. Thanks
Thanks for the tips, I'll be sure to check all my wires, fuse etc. The stater is new, just put that in last fall, so that shouldn't be an issue. Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (Sean Willard)
The "crossover bar" (on my 1975) was a stamped bracket that passed under the steering column right by your knees and held the vacuum switch to operate the headlight buckets.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 128
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From: Massena NY
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (Jim Shea)
Thanks Jim, I read your article and it sounds like you've done this one a few times, Thanks again for sharing your knowledge! :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,721
Likes: 108
From: Canada
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (Sean Willard)
Thanks for the tips, I'll be sure to check all my wires, fuse etc. The stater is new, just put that in last fall, so that shouldn't be an issue. Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: South San Francisco CA
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (Sean Willard)
I had the exact same problem and it turned out to be some bare wiring that went through the firewall from the cockpit. It took three starter motors, an ignition switch, a tow, and anguish galore with the mechanics..
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Massena NY
Re: Ignition switch on my 77' is dead, please help (fontking1a)
Thanks guys I'm back on the road!! :D Yeah after I took most of the steering column apart last night, it turns out that in fact it was a bad wire leading from the starter to the cockpit. the wire had rubbed on the distributor shield and caused a short. An easy fix, but it was kinda a pain in the butt, should have started from the started and work my way back. Oh well a lesson learned for sure. Thanks for all your input. And to Jim Sheas, your articles your posted on corvettefaq.com were most helpful, don't think I could have dropped the steering column in the timely fashion I did without your instructions, they were great, thanks for posting them!!
Thanks to everyone else who gave their input, you guys are great. It's nice to be back on the road in the vette. Just came back from a nice drive, she's still a screamer!! :smash: Thanks again everyone! :cheers:
Thanks to everyone else who gave their input, you guys are great. It's nice to be back on the road in the vette. Just came back from a nice drive, she's still a screamer!! :smash: Thanks again everyone! :cheers:
