Ignition Actuator
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,173
Likes: 1,173
Ignition Actuator
Greetings All,
A quick question about the ignition actuator, aka the piece in the steering column that breaks. I picked up a Dorman 83280 as a spare for my pickup ('84 w/ tilt):
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-9625-83280.aspx
When (apparently not if) this piece breaks, can you still unlock the steering? I understand the rod to the ignition switch won't move, but am not sure about the steering.
If the steering will still unlock with the key, that got me wondering if it's possible to hotwire the electrics for get-home capability.
A quick question about the ignition actuator, aka the piece in the steering column that breaks. I picked up a Dorman 83280 as a spare for my pickup ('84 w/ tilt):
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-9625-83280.aspx
When (apparently not if) this piece breaks, can you still unlock the steering? I understand the rod to the ignition switch won't move, but am not sure about the steering.
If the steering will still unlock with the key, that got me wondering if it's possible to hotwire the electrics for get-home capability.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
I personally believe if we’d all remove ignition tumbler and clean all that crap out that gets stuck, and spray down actuator rod they wouldn’t snap as much. You’d be surprised what makes its way into your column over 30 years. Gummy hardened dirt and grease composites that need cleaning out. Then we wouldn’t have to “lean into” the key so dang hard trying to crank and over force it.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
Greetings All,
A quick question about the ignition actuator, aka the piece in the steering column that breaks. I picked up a Dorman 83280 as a spare for my pickup ('84 w/ tilt):
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-9625-83280.aspx
When (apparently not if) this piece breaks, can you still unlock the steering? I understand the rod to the ignition switch won't move, but am not sure about the steering.
If the steering will still unlock with the key, that got me wondering if it's possible to hotwire the electrics for get-home capability.
A quick question about the ignition actuator, aka the piece in the steering column that breaks. I picked up a Dorman 83280 as a spare for my pickup ('84 w/ tilt):
https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-9625-83280.aspx
When (apparently not if) this piece breaks, can you still unlock the steering? I understand the rod to the ignition switch won't move, but am not sure about the steering.
If the steering will still unlock with the key, that got me wondering if it's possible to hotwire the electrics for get-home capability.
After you take pliers and help the rod down to make it crank over, you take a small screwdriver and poke around up in the column in the reverse direction away from the cluster. You shove the lower broken piece back till the shift lever will move out of park. That will release the steering column and let you put it in gear.
If you study the piece you just bought, you will see the long part of it has a notch in it. That is what has to line up to release the shifter lever.
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7,173
Likes: 1,173
The steering wheel will move once you get it out of park.
After you take pliers and help the rod down to make it crank over, you take a small screwdriver and poke around up in the column in the reverse direction away from the cluster. You shove the lower broken piece back till the shift lever will move out of park. That will release the steering column and let you put it in gear.
If you study the piece you just bought, you will see the long part of it has a notch in it. That is what has to line up to release the shifter lever.
After you take pliers and help the rod down to make it crank over, you take a small screwdriver and poke around up in the column in the reverse direction away from the cluster. You shove the lower broken piece back till the shift lever will move out of park. That will release the steering column and let you put it in gear.
If you study the piece you just bought, you will see the long part of it has a notch in it. That is what has to line up to release the shifter lever.
Dave,
My truck has a 4-speed manual, no worries about the shift lever. I'm unsure if I'd still be able to unlock the steering with the key if the actuator broke. I'm not even sure where the typical break happens.
A new, related question: If the steering does unlock as normal with the key, even with a broken actuator, is there any risk of the broken pieces migrating back and locking the steering again? That could get exciting...
I'm not too worried about the electrical side of the equation. I'm mostly considering the ability to jury rig a way to get home. Electrically, I could access the switch rod as you've suggested. I'm also wondering if I could hotwire the ignition, which I don't think would be too difficult. It's always easy in the movies, just touch the red wire to the black wire...
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
Your column locks with the little white button underneath. If you can't push the white button to release the steering wheel, then you will probably have to do the same procedure, and fiddle with the actuator. I am not too familiar with the manual columns in this situation, so not sure how it would turn out. But it's safe to say you have access to the lower broken part of the actuator just like the automatic columns, so if you need to fiddle with it and move it, you can.
This whole interlock thing is so someone can't reach over and turn the key off and pull it out while you are going down the road and then you can't steer the vehicle. On a automatic the lever must be in park before you can turn the key all the way back and pull it out. On a manual the white button must be pushed before the key can turn all the way back and be pulled out.
This whole interlock thing is so someone can't reach over and turn the key off and pull it out while you are going down the road and then you can't steer the vehicle. On a automatic the lever must be in park before you can turn the key all the way back and pull it out. On a manual the white button must be pushed before the key can turn all the way back and be pulled out.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jwdenney2
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
21
Jan 6, 2007 08:35 AM
88'f150_300
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
15
Nov 13, 2004 05:51 PM
