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1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch


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TravisH
User

Sep 25, 2016, 1:29 PM

Post #1 of 21 (1675 views)
  post locked   1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

I own a 1976 Chevrolet pickup, and today driving it when pulled into my drive way shutting down the ignition switch seemed to stick then when into the lock position and removed the ignition key. Later today needed to move the truck started right up but when put into park and turn it off the switch would not go into lock position stuck in between luckily I could turn the engine off and the key comes out. I have not seen this before but am thinking it's proudly the ignition switch. Let me know what any of you think and if it is the switch how do you replace one I've never fooled with these switches.

Thankyou
Travis


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 25, 2016, 1:42 PM

Post #2 of 21 (1672 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

You must mean the lock cylinder not the ignition switch are different things. At age and multiple duplicate keys made possible it doesn't turn properly. Does need to know you are in PARK to remove the key and a small barb pokes out to prevent that you see as wear on the keys after a while.


IDK: Think I'd get the steering wheel puller and a kit to remove the locking star wheel and take a look around for what isn't right or lubed enough by now and probably just change out the lock cylinder while there just anyway means two keys I think always was, one for door one for just lock cylinder on steering wheel.


Doable but a must have to remove tine snap ring can do with two flathead screwdrivers with star wheel held down by the tool. Absolutely do not lose that just wire looking ring!


T



TravisH
User

Sep 25, 2016, 3:34 PM

Post #3 of 21 (1667 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

OK I see you call it the lock cylinder what type of lube would be used in an electrical mechanical situation like this just curios? Also I have a steering wheel puller but what do you mean by kit to remove the looking star wheel? Plus the wire looking ring that you do not want to lose is that snap ring and where is it located? Will take your advice and replace the lock cylinder probably worn from use age and wear. Besides the steering wheel puller what other specialty tools required?

Thankyou
Travis


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 25, 2016, 6:04 PM

Post #4 of 21 (1663 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

It's not an electrical mechanical situation. The electrical switch is mounted on top of the column, further down.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 25, 2016, 9:03 PM

Post #5 of 21 (1660 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

Try watching this - I didn't watch the whole thing but shows some details instantly. Tools required so have them at the ready or don't as you can't without them.


>> Click >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggRdEH-Wc4s
Whole era GM were about the same.


Not so much electrical already said. That ring isn't going to be easy to find and it wont work without it - they love to go flying away and not usually a stock item but check if you do.


Lube is just thick electric grease mostly and some lock lube if you want for the key cylinder.
Horn in there and directionals, springs and parts that broke easily or stuck, wore out ages before this and probably on a second, third time already now.


If not up to it ask a shop for help as it actually should all be parts you can get new same day still that are common,


T



TravisH
User

Sep 28, 2016, 10:25 AM

Post #6 of 21 (1637 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

Tom Greenleaf appreciate the help and referral to th YouTube video watched it and several others next time I go to town need to purchase a pressure plate compression tool to get at that snap ring. Now I have a better understanding of how those mechanism inside the steering column works. Always thought what was the ignition switch was the as you corrected me was in fact the lock cylinder that's what is broken or just plain wore out. Once I'm able to get around to fixing it I will let you once repaired.

Thankyou;
Travis


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 28, 2016, 1:37 PM

Post #7 of 21 (1631 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

That ring isn't a standard snap ring - more like round metal part key chain. It will or I always just use two flat head screwdrivers for just that to open it up and slide up and off spindle of the wheel. Still need the tool, threads onto where nut would go then pushed down on the star wheel.


Just note: Spindle had a hammer in mark for straight ahead and wheel should match that or be all off when all done.


Lube stuff while in there! Dialectic grease is fine, now a heavy weight WD-40 available. Lighter lube for lock tumblers.


IDK - somehow a ton of these had something broken inside and was in there a lot back when,


T



TravisH
User

Sep 28, 2016, 5:54 PM

Post #8 of 21 (1623 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

I noticed on the YouTube video and you mentioning the hammer mark on the spindle is this an alignment mark with the spindle and steering wheel?
Could not see on video, and does it matter where the alignment marks are placed or located as long as clearly visible on the steering wheel and spindle shaft when putting everything back together. Wanting to make sure I'm understanding you correctly appreciate your assistance.

Thankyou;
Travis


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Sep 28, 2016, 9:58 PM

Post #9 of 21 (1619 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

OK - steering wheel and the shaft are marked but can be installed in any position.


So whey taking a wheel off do that with it pointing straight ahead and end up in that same spot. Marks may be hard to see and not focused on in any video - that was a short one that should show others much more involved - longer.


I just want you to "center" the wheel not have it way off. When or if one is not right that is adjusted by alignment adjustments not at the wheel and spindle - it does matter,


T


PS: I can find pics but this site and my device don't agree on what it will show. You can search for indexing a steering wheel to shaft and see it or I'll keep trying to explain better. It's not work just something to note when taking a wheel off and putting back on......



dr.donut
User

Oct 1, 2016, 1:35 PM

Post #10 of 21 (1602 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

A pro. locksmith might save you a fair amount of cash for the lock cylinder rather than going to a dealer ,FYI.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 1, 2016, 3:33 PM

Post #11 of 21 (1600 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

NO - shouldn't be called for. This is a 1976 - nothing all that tricky and style was used on almost all GMs for a decade or more just like it. The tool would still be an in stock item right now and not all that costly or even rentable at some parts outlets.


Broken assorted parts should be available now aftermarket. Millions and millions of these made,


T



TravisH
User

Oct 3, 2016, 4:28 PM

Post #12 of 21 (1584 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

I was wondering if your familiar with ignition lock mechanism kit made by Help. Wouldn't be at all surprised if from what I saw in the kit if my truck has anything remotely like that would be broken from repeat usage being made of pot metal and plastic parts.

Thankyou;
Travis


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 3, 2016, 8:50 PM

Post #13 of 21 (1578 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

Yes - the "HELP" products have made obsolete small springs and parts, door handles, and more for many years. On line or in parts outlets for almost everything for the ignition small parts that are known to break.


There are cancel springs that are left and right handed when these were newer (you style began in about 1969/70 up into late 80s or early 90s at least in many GM models, cars, trucks large or small vehicles.


Early failures were many times just folks hanging too much on the control levers or a key chain with a briefcase or pocket book attaches pulling on a key busted things.


Keys were usually brass and wore out, lock cylinders wear out and the other features as well. Horn springs fail and on and on.


Popular to fail then and almost need to take these apart and lube things up or it's destined to fail somehow at some point. Said - so many countless millions of this general style was made bet there's still a couple million out there in use fixed or just left broken by now.


In short - just google out "Help" line of products or ask at a brick and mortar store for them to look for you when you see what you need their screen will show it with a part #.


Tools are plain still common. What lacks for myself is used parts at a local U-Pick parts yard to just go get used stuff in less time than waiting for new. A place would once just give all that junk away as they don't save it to sell later.


Now none around and the work for me would be finding where I left all the spares of the things I've mentioned and did these for folks while they waited,


T



TravisH
User

Oct 4, 2016, 3:19 PM

Post #14 of 21 (1559 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

Appreciate your help and input on my 1976 chevrolet trucks ingnition cylinder lock problems. My question is which lubracations to use on the different parts as most it seems are mechanical and not electrical except the horn as recomended I purchased dialectic grease, spray silicone and spay white lithium grease. Heat from the sun can cause certain greases to liquid and run. Thought better ask before going further.

Thankyou;
Travis


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 4, 2016, 9:56 PM

Post #15 of 21 (1555 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

You have what I would use for greases and lube. Lock tumblers I tend to like light weight stuff even ordinary WD-40 or said to be a lube in a product called "Lock De-Icer" which is like an alcohol with lube to spray in key holes frozen.


OE factory used thick yellowish grease that long wore away on steering parts inside column. Both melts and hardens with cold so can't win forever.


Don't neglect door hinges, hood latches - all of it anywhere. Old vehicles can be fine with tending to those things for unlimited time. Truck - do up the tail gate latches too!


Good luck with ignition. It's not really that hard and easy for me to say. A first at anything take paying attention to of course.


Side note on this exact style: Got fast at those for folks who lost last set of keys or bad luck dropping them down a drain locked out and couldn't run the car/vehicle. Could do those where the vehicle was faster than towing it and kept spare parts on hand so common,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 5, 2016, 4:50 AM

Post #16 of 21 (1548 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

Nothing should be put inside the lock. Tumblers require dry lube only such as graphite and even that isn't needed. Everything that needs to be lubed inside that lock is already lubed in a new lock.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 5, 2016, 6:44 AM

Post #17 of 21 (1544 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

Agree > It doesn't specify exactly but "Lock-DeIcer" by brand claims a lock lube with an alcohol for frozen locks - any. Size of a Magic Marker thing made to fit key holes. There is or was graphite once but never see it anymore for decades on end.
I know it's not an oil - that's all as overspray doesn't show anything
Note: Older GM were all single cut keys with tumblers on the bottom both door and ignition. Silly - all other keys for buildings and such meant for teeth UP so this doesn't happen as much w moisture + debris?


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 5, 2016, 6:48 AM

Post #18 of 21 (1541 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

This is an ignition switch. There is never going to be any moisture in it and it should never require lube.

Graphite is readily available at hardware stores. I recently bought a large bottle.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Oct 5, 2016, 7:08 AM

Post #19 of 21 (1537 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

I'd be looking but no problem with just the deicer on all locks - padlocks - any. Cold night and warm humid mornings inside of vehicles are wet, locks, windows, everything could be anywhere. Can't imagine calling it "deicer" in places that don't freeze often or at all though?


Road calls up the butt once when doing those a lot.


I'll look or ask in hardware as a fav hobby to just cruise those toy stores for me!


T



TravisH
User

Oct 8, 2016, 5:50 PM

Post #20 of 21 (1517 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

I wanted to Thankyou for the advice and help with my problem on my 1976 Chevrolet truck. Repaced the old ingnition lock cylinder with a new and it seems to be working properly as it should. The trickiest part of the job was removing the ring that holds the pressure plate secured in place.

Thankyou;
Travis


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Oct 8, 2016, 11:48 PM

Post #21 of 21 (1512 views)
  post locked   Re: 1976 Chevrolet Pickup Ignition Switch  

Glad to hear it Travis. Smile - I just recall saying back when, "DON'T LOSE THAT SILLY LITTLE HOLDING RING'' which is/was so easy to fly away and make just this a nightmare to find another to finish up.


It's not as bad when you've done it a few times, just normal wear and tear but can see and was new to it myself too first tries at things even this common are frustrating.


Hope all works back to normal and it's all fixed as you wish.


I'll close out thread as solved to archives. YOU the original poster (OP) can ask any moderator to re-open it upon request,


T







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