Ignition switch woes

[David Boyd <john@dboyd.demon.co.uk>]

Same thing happened to me last week - not only was  the  ignition switch
kaput but also the half-moon section shaft from the lock barrel, behind
which the switch is attached, had sheared.
The ignition switch itself is thus a separate part, and quite easy to
replace. There was a modification to this assembly around 1989, on UK spec.
vehicles at least, - the switch is attached to the lock assembly by two
'wings' on the plastic switch housing which are held by painted-over grub
screws in the lock barrel housing, which are accessible from directly above
the housing only. You therefore need to remove the instrument panel for
access to these screws.
If you are lucky and it's only the switch which is faulty, this is a very
easy job provided you carefully scrape all the paint off the screw heads and
use an appropriate small screwdriver to undo them. A good light and a small
mirror helps.
However, if you do need to replace the lock barrel, this is a fiddly job to
say the least, the fiddle being getting adequate access to the housing to
measure and drill a 3mm hole in exactly the specified location in order to
release the barrel. I was very grateful at the time for advice from this
List re doing this. If you have a manual, it will be documented to some
extent there, but if you need more details, email me privately.

Hope this helps

Regards

David

****************************************************
john@dboyd.demon.co.uk
Cumbria, UK.
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 1997 20:24:27 -0500
 jos1@cornell.edu asked:
Subject: ignition switch woes
Has anyone here experienced sudden ignition switch failure?
Parked the car last night after running some errands;  today
when I wanted to start the engine, key only turned far enough
in the ignition to unlock the steering wheel -- no farther (sp?).
Tried the spare key also, with same result. So, how often does
this tend to happen, is there an easy fix, and (if necessary) how
difficult is it to replace the tumbler assembly?
ANY input appreciated. OBTW: it's a 1989 100Q, and there was no
hint of impending failure.
jos1@cornell.edu