Steering Column Repair: ignition lock, channel lock pliers, gm vehicles

Question

igniton lock housing Douglas, Monday I turn off my truck revmoed the key went into the store came back out stuck my key in the ignition and it would not turn. I'm stumped. I have removed the covers, and have a replacement cylinder, but I can't get teh old cylinder out. I drilled a 1/4" where the cylinder locking tab is located in the off position, pressed in the keeper and cylinder will only come out about 1/4" Ant ideas would be great. Thanks, don

Answer
Hi Don

This design lock will only come out in the run position.  In addition, you can only access the retaining spring lock when the lock is in the start position.  You have 2 options.  Disconnect the battery.  Force the lock to the start position with a pair of channel lock pliers or vice grips, then hit the release pin and rotate it back to the run position so you can then pull it straight out or...

Drill out the lock laterally (the same direction the key would go in) until you can crush the cylinder and remove all the pieces.  This way is a lot ore work, a lot of drilling and you need to be careful.

Since you have an antitheft system on yours, I would suggest the first option to avoid damaging anything inside the housing.  
We have recently uploaded pages and a description of how to replace the lock cylinder on GM vehicles.  They are broken down into step by step detailed instructions. Here is a link to that page.  This covers most of the locks from 1968 to present.
http://www.stolenandrecovered.com/howto/gmcyl.php
Lastly, I would have a new lock cylinder in hand before you begin, to see what you are working on (hidden in the column) and accomplish finishing this job quickly.

Good luck
Doug

http://www.stolenandrecovered.com