halp, ignition switch snapped!

[Greg5OH]

We know that sticky ignition tumbler..well it was so sticky last night that it snapped! i can rotate the thing, its stuck in the ON position. Where do these typically break, how does one fix it? Id like to order whatever parts I need before i rip it all apart.
thanks.

 

[Greg5OH]

jsut wondering if a new tumbler and pushrod stick is needed?

 

[icanfixall]

Sorry but thats a big job. What broke is a cheap piece of aluminum type pot metal in the linkage to the ignition switch. We have some great pics of it in thos forum too. This was talked about a few months ago too. The steering wheel needs to come off. then all the stuff inside the colume till you reach the piece.

 

[jada64]

Is there a way to bypass this if it breaks?

 

[HammerDown]

There are some that uses the key in the 'run position' and then uses a start-button to fire the engine.

Few years back my actuator broke...not all that bad of a job, with a tilt wheel it was a little more involved but you're sitting in the drivers seat taking stuff apart, not like you're laying under the truck fighting an oil-cooler removal with sh*t dripping in your face etc.
There are a couple short-cuts and tricks to get that busted part out > several videos on YouTube about it.

Here's a vid to get you started...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfRFggOtyNw

 

[Rot Box]

Yup..

Once you open it up you'll see the actuator rod going all the way down the steering column to the ignition box. For those that have never had one break before (I've never tried this but in theory...) you should be able to manually push/pull that rod to start/turn off the truck which could save you a tow bill if that alum rod breaks when you're away from home.

I changed mine out recently. Whoever owned it before me lubed up the linkage and gears with wheel bearing grease which made the key very difficult to turn in cold weather. Not sure what is recommended but I put it back together dry and it is night and day better.

Imo it's one of the most poorly designed parts on the bull and brick nose Fords. What were they thinking?! Not a difficult job just time consuming. Good luck.

Andrew

 

[79jasper]

I understand keeping things factory.
But I'll use a universal before going deep as that pot metal piece.

Example for a dodge: $80 ignition switch, or $15 universal I had laying around.

 

[redneckaggie]

Yes just pull the trim piece closest to the dash, underneath that trim piece on top of the column will be a rod, have a pair of needlenose pliers handy and pull that rod backwards gently, it will have "clicks" for(starting from rearmost position) acc, off, run, and if you push towards the dash further it will engage the starter, you can use the pliers to run the key switch until you get it fixed, just make sure that the key has the steering whel unlocked.

 

[mf7lakes]

to remove the wheel (as in video) -- what about the air bag (if equipped) ???

Thanks

 

[icanfixall]

No air bags in our trucks... Unless your talking about the wife sometimes...

 

[mf7lakes]

HHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

 

[HammerDown]

BTW I remember there was a shortcut trick with the tilt wheel column in that you use a threaded bolt (don't remember the size) and thread the bolt into the pivot knuckles to extract them...by doing this it made installing the new actuator rod easy.
Some just grind away excess metal of the new piece to get it in...I didn't.