damn ket wont turn in the ignition cylinder. kind of feels like the steering lock is on but the steering wheel isnt locked. anyone have any ideas. is it the steering wheel lock stuck or is the cylinder bad?

had to get the car towed again. but this time it was busy and everyone was staring it was embarassing.

 

If theres pressure on the wheel ( left or right ) from the wheels . . . the key wont turn. Its hard to explain ,sometimes you have to take the pressure off by turning the wheel in the same direction as the wheels a little bit. . . thats my best guess.

Is your key very old ??

 

that happened to me a couple of years ago and i had to replace the tumbler

 

what is the tumbler? and is it hard to replace

Twitch the steering is not locked i can turn the wheel just not the key.

 

It's the part that the key fit into and rotates. You can either replace it and get a new ignition key or you can get it repaird by a keysmith. Which ever way you go it a PITA cause everything has to come off the columb

 

IT IS NOT THE TUMBLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that just happend to me about a month ago, replaced the tumbler, 300 dollars later, still the same thing. its the ignition switch that the tumbler moves. the ignition switch is between 20-30 dollars depending on where you go. it sits above the steering column. its a bit of a pita to change but i can do it with my eyes closed now. change that first because its only 20-30 dollars. if its still messed then go ahead and swap out the tumbler, but its like 300 for the tumbler then you need a new key from gm and thats like 50 bucks.

i fyou swap out the tumbler just pay a locksmith 100 to do it, youll thank yourself later, but im 99% sure its the ignition switch, so go ahead and change it, if you need help just let me know

if you need it tonight just go to lordco on kingsway (call first) there open till midnight. and swap it out. if you need urgent help i can come over and do it for you.

 

where abouts on the top of the column is it. ill change it out in the morning if i can get a hold of one

 

If you need that expensive *** peice I have a whole steering wheel / steering column assembly you can have for 100$ should have everything there and save a few $$.

 

its a bit of a pain,

first you have to take off the bottom panel thats under the steering column. then there will be this v shaped bracket that is used for a mounting point for the bottom panel, take that off, there will be two bolts holding that up.

then theres two bolts that hold the steering column up in position, take those off. now tilt your wheel down.

take out your gauge cluster, it will be easier to get your hands in there from on top of the steering column.

now bring the column down as far as you possible can.

do this while sitting in the drivers seat with the seat as far back as you can.

now look at your new ignition switch, it will look like that.

you may need a flashlight to locate it but its right on top of the column, about half way down.

to get to it will be a tight fit and the highbeam control is attached to it as well, so youll need to use a 1/4 drive socket to get in there and take out the bolts that hold em in.

this whole time you cant see what your doing so youll have to do it via touch. theres also a screw on there as well so youll have to be able to attach a driver bit to your ratchet.

when you have em undone you have to undo the harness, that may be a pain as well.

installation is reverse, getting the highbeam switch back on is a pain to because it moves back and forth for adjustability. so youll have to position it, test out your high beam toggle to see if it clicks like before then sinch it down.


hope this helps

 

all he needs is the ignition switch, 20 bucks.

and with your assembley you dont have the key for it. so he will have to get a key made for the tumbler in your column then have the chip matched to his car or else it wont start. no idea how much a locksmith will charge for the rekeying for the tumbler.

 

It's the ignition switch, about $40 at the dealer. Mine died last summer right infront of the dealership.

 

sorry but in my case it was the tumbler but it may not be in yours

 

yeah but yours is a third gen not a 4th. in the 4ths the tumblers rarely go. found that out the hard way. and im sure hed rather spend 20-30 bucks rather then close to if not over 300 for the 4th gen tumbler, chipped key, plus install from a locksmith.

i was stupid and swapped out the tumbler and later realized it was the switch. better to swap out the cheaper of the two.

did however have a tumble go in my fox body mousestang. but like i said the 4th gen tumblers dont go bad very often but the ignition switches are a unfortunate common problem.

 

Ah crap !!

 

OMFG i would not wish that job on anyone. that has to be the worst job that i have ever had to do on my car.

Thanks 93formula for telling me about the ignition switch that was it. when i took it out it was fried on a few of the prongs. so as soon as i took that out i new it was it.

i did it without taking out the instrument panel and there is absolutly no room in there for more then just one hand. i hope that never goes again. there a 2 bolts that hold it on and one screw and the screw was the biggest pain in the *** to get back in cause both bolts and the screw are like 1/4 inch long.
im so happy it is over i have cuts all over my rihgt hand and my arms ar beat red from getting scrathced on everything

that sucked

big thanks to 93formula!!!

P.S. big thanks to the dumbass GM engineers who design this crap