ignition problem please help

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Jul 31, 2011 | 09:25 PM

Shaun lindmark

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From: Billerica, Massachusetts

ignition problem please help

Hey guys I was about to head home from my camp about a 125 mile trip and went in my truck turned the key to on and put the windows down. Went to turn the key back off and nothing happened, the key spun freely like it wasnt grabbing anything. Turned it all the way back and got it to start. Could not shut truck off though. I thought the ignition was stripped out so i removed it and used a screw driver to turn the gear inside and still nothing. It spins freely and will only grab if you turn it all the way to start it. Thats it. I had to pull the main fuse under the hood to shut it off and just disconnected the batteries. I think its something internally in the colum but not sure. Has anyone had this problem before ? or any other things to look at to try and figure this out.

I apreciate any help guys need to figure this out ASAP

Shaun

Aug 1, 2011 | 05:48 AM

tjc transport

i ain't rite

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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

you are going to have to pull the column apart. after you get the steering wheel off, pull the blinker switch, and then pull the upper column cover to access the gears behind the key cylinder. you will see the problem once you get down that far into the column.

Aug 1, 2011 | 06:04 AM

Shaun lindmark

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From: Billerica, Massachusetts

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjc transport

Ok thank you I will do that today

Aug 1, 2011 | 06:10 AM

tjc transport

i ain't rite

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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.

once you get down far enough, you will see a rack style gear behind the key cylinder that engages the rod to the ignition switch.
my guess is that that part is bad and the gears are no longer engaging. .

Aug 1, 2011 | 06:20 AM

Shaun lindmark

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From: Billerica, Massachusetts

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjc transport

Ok cool I have never ripped one of these apart so I had no idea how they work. Also the dealership should be able to find what ever part I need if I bring it to the correct ? I was thinking it might be easier to go to the junk yard and get a whole new colum do you know if any one out of an obs will work or does it have to be from a diesel ?

Thanks again for all your help

Aug 1, 2011 | 06:29 AM

shorebird

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From: Long Beach, Ms.

Definitely in the column.
If you find a column in the parts yard be sure to keep the wheel from spinning so as to prevent damage to the clockspring.
It should not matter if it comes out of a gasser or deisel.

Aug 1, 2011 | 06:32 AM

fishmanndotcom

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Joined: May 2000

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From: Senoia, GA

i recently had this problem in my truck after replacing the worn out column bearings. what happened on mine and what it sounds like on yours is the lower actuator is broken. it is plastic and after 13 years it tends to get brittle. the ignition switch is connected to a plastic rod that connects into a slide within the actual ignition switch. the end of the slide is broke on mine. thankfully it did not break cleanly so if i crank my truck i can tilt my steering wheel all the way down and the actuator will catch and i can shut the truck off.

i think this is what you broke, it should be #26:
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0

-cutts-