Hi Folks,

I finished the installation of the No Limit Rack and Pinion steering kit yesterday. Along with new rotors, wheel bearings, calipers, brake lines etc. I took a lot of pics but will wait for a write-up until I get to test drive it.

Everything was all bolted up with a new floor plate and lower column mount. I had put the key in the ignition to disable the steering lock and allow my wife to rotate the steering shaft as I fed the column through the floor board. Not until I was done did I realize that I now cannot rotate the key assembly back to the OFF/LOCK position, which means I cannot remove the key.

Odd, as I did numerous test fittings using the same procedure and never had an issue.

The steering column is GM, from a '76 Bonneville, mated up to a Ron Francis wiring harness for what that's worth.

I am not totally familiar with how the locking mechanism works, and not sure what to try. Perhaps removing the steering wheel will show me something, or perhaps I could remove the column, try to see if changing the angle will dislodge something? But if it is something tenuous like that then I would not really trust this column anymore, so would want to get the ignition/lock system fixed or just pop for an Ididit column.

Has anyone ever run accross such an issue before? I'll try to jiggle it around a bit more tonight and see if I can get it loose. I won't have a chance to truly dig into it until Thursday, so just looking for some ideas so I have a game plan by then.

Thanks as always.

Gustave

P.S. Loved the C6 discussion. I have a C6 so it was very educational!

 

If you have a auto column sounds like it's not going into park position. Might check and see if something is hitting the shift arm.
Good luck

 

This may be overly elementary, but did you pull the steering wheel HARD left or right while turning the switch to the OFF position?

 

I should have mentioned, this is for a floor shift, not column shift.

I've not yanked the wheel hard left or right, just turned it slowly. Since the axles are in the air and no wheels on, there is no resistance to turning the steering wheel. It did occur to me that this "might" be part of the problem. But usually that is to unlock the steering wheel, where you have to jiggle it. Here I cannot seem to actually lock it.

When I get the time I'll pull the column and see what I can find out.

Gustave

 

Even with a floor shift, there is a rod coming from the trans to the column that only lets the key go to lock when the shifter is moved to park. You probably bumped that lever at the bottom of the column when installing, and didn't realize it.

 

Yep. Brain cramp. I was thinking of the key not moving from "off" to "on" then "start".

 

The GM columns I've seen have a rod attached to the ignition that could be hanging up on your dash somewhere

 

Hey, you guys are on to something. I did in fact notice last night that what I thought was a thick wire going from the key area to the electrical connector on the column, is in fact a solid rod. That rod slides up and down when you turn the key. I thought maybe the drop collar had pinched the rod against the column, but loosening the collar had no effect.

There is a Neutral/Safety wire that comes from the harness and attaches to the base of the steering column. I beleive it needs to be closed (electrically) to allow the engine to crank/start. There must be something in the column that does that. But there is absolutely nothing that connects the column to the shift linkage, certainly not mechanically, though perhaps it is via the harness. I will have to investigate.

I am starting to wonder whether this issue is electrical and not mechanical? Would 12V be required to the column perhaps to allow the key to move to the off position? The only thing is that does not jive with my previous experiences on test installations.

When I get a chance to pull the column back out that should make things easier to diagnose.

I must admit that I am giving thought to buying an Ididit tilt column and moving the ignition switch back the dash where it was originally, perhaps with a push button start. I think I can tie the Neutral/Safety switch into the hydraulic brake light switch near the master cylinder (I plan to continue using the PO's mechanical brake light switch for the brake lights).

Anyway, you guys have given me some solid clues on to what to look for with my stuck ignition switch.

Thanks very much.

Gustave

 

No, there's no electrical connection needed to have the key move to lock. It is strictly mechanical. Take another look. I didn't think about the ignition switch rod, but that was a good idea, even though you ruled it out. But there should be a mechanical link from the shifter to the column. It's a safety feature added in to floor shift cars since they added in locking steering wheels, late 60's-early 70's, to keep people from locking the steering wheel until the car is stopped and trans in park. It's possible a PO of your column cut off the link at the bottom, but the internal parts can still rotate, causing your problem.

 

Ah yes, I do remember that now. There was some type of metal tab at the base of the column that looked like something had been cut off of it. That must be it. I'll pull the column and investigate. And that is where the N/S wire connected to the column, so the PO must have defaulted that part of the system to the "safe" position. Thanks 52 Merc!

Wow, it's like drinking from a fire hose lately!

Gustave

 

Just a follow up for those interested. 52 Merc had it right. There was a tab at the bottom of the GM Bonneville steering column which must have been mechanically connected to the tranny in the original vehicle. The tab was cut off by PO. I noticed it but paid no attention to it as I did not know what it was.

I pulled the column and rotated said tab around the steering column perhaps 15 degrees and that did it. The key could be rotated to OFF and removed from the ignition switch.

Thanks to all. Here's a pic of the tab.

Gustave

 

Yeah me! LOL
Seriously, I'm glad it worked out, and I could be helpful. You may want to consider figuring out a way to secure that from rotating in the future, and preventing future headaches, if you haven't done so already.

Have a great Thanksgiving!