help! 89 won't turn off!

[gr8xs]

no joke. with no warning what-so-ever, i could not get my ignition key to turn to the "off" position! it has never so much as even felt like there was any kind of problem with it. i disconnected the neg. bat. cable and she finally died. after messing with the switch for an hour it finally broke (?) loose. then i could freely move it back & forth from the "off" to the "on" position. so thinking what the heck, let's try reconnecting the battery. first turn, started then died. second turn, started right up. idled for a sec, i went to shut it off and it was stuck again. it's still stuck. i had to get a ride to work. i know i came to the right place, any ideas?

 

[XLR8]

gr8xs... I can't help with your issue but we've got very knowledgeable members here that are more than willing and able so stay tuned.

I just thought that XLR8 should say hi to gr8xs!

And welcome to the

Jane Ann

 

[gmjunkie]

no joke. with no warning what-so-ever, i could not get my ignition key to turn to the "off" position! it has never so much as even felt like there was any kind of problem with it. i disconnected the neg. bat. cable and she finally died. after messing with the switch for an hour it finally broke (?) loose. then i could freely move it back & forth from the "off" to the "on" position. so thinking what the heck, let's try reconnecting the battery. first turn, started then died. second turn, started right up. idled for a sec, i went to shut it off and it was stuck again. it's still stuck. i had to get a ride to work. i know i came to the right place, any ideas?

The 3 things I find the most with Column Ignition Switch problems................................

#1 Ignition Switch itself,Located just above your left toes under lower dash access panel on side of steering column! (Not a hard Job!)
#2 Ignition Key Cylinder in Column,(Not a hard Job either!)
#3 Ignition Actuator Rack in column. (This Job SUCKs no matter how you look at it!~!!)

 

[gr8xs]

gr8xs... I can't help with your issue but we've got very knowledgeable members here that are more than willing and able so stay tuned.

I just thought that XLR8 should say hi to gr8xs!

And welcome to the

Jane Ann

Thank you, thank you very much! Glad to be here. What a nice forum you have here! I read quite a few threads/posts, did some searches, and I have got to say that this is the most pleasant bunch of folks I've ever read! My hat's off to ya.
Btw, nice car!

Julie

 

[gr8xs]

The 3 things I find the most with Column Ignition Switch problems................................

#1 Ignition Switch itself,Located just above your left toes under lower dash access panel on side of steering column! (Not a hard Job!)
#2 Ignition Key Cylinder in Column,(Not a hard Job either!)
#3 Ignition Actuator Rack in column. (This Job SUCKs no matter how you look at it!~!!)

Dude, all I can say is "you rock!" At least now I have a place to start. ;worship :thanks: oot: There, that ought to do it.


Thanks for your time,
Julie

 

[LLC5]

no joke. with no warning what-so-ever, i could not get my ignition key to turn to the "off" position! it has never so much as even felt like there was any kind of problem with it. i disconnected the neg. bat. cable and she finally died. after messing with the switch for an hour it finally broke (?) loose. then i could freely move it back & forth from the "off" to the "on" position. so thinking what the heck, let's try reconnecting the battery. first turn, started then died. second turn, started right up. idled for a sec, i went to shut it off and it was stuck again. it's still stuck. i had to get a ride to work. i know i came to the right place, any ideas?

Gmjunkie is spot on.

Try the easiest first, remove the electrical part of the switch and see if it moves freely. If not, remove the ignition switch tumblers and see if the rack moves the rod for the switch freely. If it is still bound up, then the top half of the coulmn comes apart to replace the rack, and if you have never done one then you should have it done by someone with experience as it isn't fun and there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Good luck with it.

 

[gr8xs]

Gmjunkie is spot on.

Try the easiest first, remove the electrical part of the switch and see if it moves freely. If not, remove the ignition switch tumblers and see if the rack moves the rod for the switch freely. If it is still bound up, then the top half of the coulmn comes apart to replace the rack, and if you have never done one then you should have it done by someone with experience as it isn't fun and there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Good luck with it.

Thank you very much. I appreciate your taking the time to answer me. I had no clue. Now I can at least read about it in my factory service manual (good ole ebay). I doubt if I would attempt to do it myself, but with your wonderful help at least there won't be a blonde driving up to a shop in an 89 black convertible corvette, with a blank stare on her face, who walks away days later with a 3 page bill and $1500 less in her pocket! That's what you all have done. Take pride and I "thank you". :bowrofl
(hehehe, I love these things!!)

 

[XLR8]

Thanks for the compliments about my Vette as well as our humble little forum!

We've got a great bunch here and they're glad to help and suggest causes and solutions to just about anything Corvette. Posting questions, researching threads and the CAC Tech Center have helped me walk into the shop many times and talk with my mechanics with more confidence and less tolerance for BS. I've even educated them a time or two thanks to time spent here.

Good luck with the repair and post results back here so that the next owner researching the issue can learn from you.

Jane Ann