Help! Ignition key turns freely in 1990 coupe with no resistance or results

[billyg48]

My VATS ignition key turns freely in lock cylinder with no results (ignition NOT on, NO starter action, absolutely NOTHING happens! Anyone out there ever experience this or have any ideas what has failed. I have replaced the ignition cylinder & key a couple times in the past and the steering column just last year. I am hoping it is NOT the steering column inner works again...

 

[vetteoz]

My VATS ignition key turns freely in lock cylinder .

Check the Ign switch at base of steering column.
Seems the rod that operates the switch is no longer being moved by the key barrel

Pg# 25-29
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/images/d/d6/Jazzman_Steering_Rack_Rebuild.pdf

 

[billyg48]

Ignition switch cylinder failed in ON position

Check the Ign switch at base of steering column.
Seems the rod that operates the switch is no longer being moved by the key barrel

Pg# 25-29
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/images/d/d6/Jazzman_Steering_Rack_Rebuild.pdf

Thanks for the reply and pictorial breakdown of the tilt steering column assembly. I was apparently incorrect in saying the lock cylinder was NOT in the ON position. I placed the VATS key in the ignition cylinder so that it could read the resistance of the key chip, crawled under the dash and actuated the white nylon start switch by hand, only to find that the ignition cylinder mechanism seems to have failed in the ON position - since the battery was as dead as any battery could be.
My son then told me that when I showed him the problem the day it happened, he noticed that the radio clock time was ON even when I turned the key cylinder to the OFF position and removed the key. He nor I had ever seen that occur. My next step will be to remove, and fully charge the battery - replace it and try to actuate the white nylon start switch by hand again so that I can start it, get it out of PARK and get it somewhere to get it looked at by someone like yourself who has a better knowledge than me on the ignition cylinders/tilt steering columns of a 1990 C4 coupe. Again - thank you for your time and any other suggestions/information you can pass my way.

 

[vetteoz]

get it out of PARK

If you access the shifter mech , you can disconnect the Ign interlock cable so you can get the trans out of P
Drv side cable