Cadillac Repair: ignition tunnel replacement, older cars, turning the key

Question
The key turned & the car did not start & i took the key back out & everything stayed turned on inside as if the key were still in it - no contact to start, the key hole sounds broke

Answer
Hi David, It used to be that with some older cars of the '70's vintage that the key could be removed without turning the key back but not on the newer vehicles. If you can move the lock cylinder forward and back with or without the key in the cylinder and the dash lights stay on or the engine stays running then replaceing the cylinder might not cure the problem. However removeing it might.

   But before you do that here is what happens when the key is turned. The cylinder has a gear on the end with teeth that move a rod that has teeth on the end and that rod moves the ignition switch. What happens is the gear breaks off the rod. If you remove the panels below the steering column you will see 2 rods alittle bigger than a coathanger. One is for the lock cyl. and the other for the headlights. Try turning the key and watch the rod and see if it moves. If it does then maybe the ignition switch that is mounted on the side/bottom is bad. If the part inside the steering column is broken then you could take a pair of pliers and grab the rod to turn the ignition off or forward to start the engine so you could drive it to your mechanic. Disassembleing a column that far to replace a rack and rod is something that requires some special tools and for someone unfamillar with the column you might get it apart but not be able to put it back together and make it work. The first time I did one it was tricky getting all the parts to line up and I had to ask someone to show me.

   Hope that helps answer your question and let me know if you need anymore help. Bill