ignition cylinder removal?

[BerniniCaCO3]

Trying to change out my old ignition cylinder, as it's a touch broken and twice now, I've almost been stranded when it wouldn't let my key in! :-O

I'm reading the manual on removing the old one; I've undone the screws through the steering column shroud, and there's some 'pressure point' to push on such that the old ignition cylinder will just slide out when in the run position?

I've got the key in the run position, and tried jambing the screwdriver up what seemed to be the proper hole (no screw in it), but.. no release in the ignition cylinder.

Oh, and do I need to remove the tilt steering lever to get the shroud off? If so, how?

And feel free to offer any advice on installing the new one, if there are difficulties I might run into later!



thanks!
-Bernard

[1987cp]

I've had to push pretty hard on that little release button before.

You do have all of the column trim all the way off, correct? From your description I'm not certain whether you're actually working on the outside of the aluminum lock-cylinder housing or if you're pushing your screwdriver into a random hole in the column trim.

No need to remove the tilt-wheel lever, BTW. The little collar at the front has two tabs that clip into a thingie over on the side, so find where it splits and carefully pull it away from the column.

[BerniniCaCO3]

No, the trim is still on there... thought I needed to get the ignition cylinder off (at least, the outer part: looking at the replacement, it comes in two halves) first?
The trim isn't really moving, and I don't want to bend/crack the plastic. It's separated into two halves, but the lower half won't come off easily and the upper is still held on by the ignition cylinder.

[1987cp]

Just to clarify what we're talking about ... these pics are from a non-tilt, non-cruise car with the horn on the multifunction stalk, so you won't see some of the extra junk you're used to.

The spot you need to press is circled in green in the second pic.

[1987cp]

No, the trim is still on there... thought I needed to get the ignition cylinder off (at least, the outer part: looking at the replacement, it comes in two halves) first?
The trim isn't really moving, and I don't want to bend/crack the plastic. It's separated into two halves, but the lower half won't come off easily and the upper is still held on by the ignition cylinder.

Ah ... yeah, at least the lower trim piece needs to come off. Lots of screws on the underside of that thing, and then it still needs some gentle persuasion to disengage everything. Might help to remove the lower dash trim and probably move the gear selector to "1".

[BerniniCaCO3]

Ah, cool, did not need to come off BUT, that photo was still very helpful to see what I needed to do! Got the ignition changed easily once I figured it out; thanks for the help

[sly]

in the 93 I have, there's actually an access hole for that release button. You have to slide the cylinder out before the top shroud will come off (top, right, and top half of the left side). The bottom is attached to half of the left side. I had to press on that release button pretty damn hard to get it to let go as well.

I didn't need to change mine, but I needed to find out where the hell the shifter needed tightening. Also removed all that when I fixed the odometer... so I've had it off a good half dozen or so times. PITA each time though.