Quick Help Needed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stiff IGN switch?? - Diesel Forum

Fordiesel69 · 11-22-2005, 05:15 PM

Ok, today it got really cold out 30's F im guessing. Anyways, I am having trouble getting my key to turn, it feels very stiff like something has thick grease on it. What should I look for? I broke my other column 2 winters ago and had to swap the etire thing out because the rod broke. Do you think this could be the actually electrical switch that is causing so much stress on the rod?

Garbage_Mechanic · 11-22-2005, 07:16 PM

Had that happen alot. You got it exactly right. The old dried up grease gets really worse when it gets cold. The best thing is to tear the column apart, clean and lube all of the ign sw parts using a silicone/ teflon grease. Most people don't have the time or patience to do that so here's a temp fix....Take some WD 40 or your favorite, with the snorkle. Reach in the gaps in the colum and lube the moving parts, especially the rack. Also spray it into the lock cyl through the key slot. Warning......!!!!! If you continue to force it, the 10 cent potmetal linkage WILL break, and at the worse time no less!

Fordiesel69 · 11-22-2005, 09:19 PM

Thanks for the quick reply, I dropped the column down and sprayed contact cleaner with teflon oil in the IGN switch and also the rod linkage. It is waaaayyyy better already. Tomorrow I will remove the steering wheel and lube up top a bit.

Thats how I broke the first column. The fuel I was using was a dry winter blend, thus allowing the metering valve in the pump to stick and the engine would stall rather than idle. I was rocking the truck back and fourth when the engine stalled, guess what? SNAP!!!!!!!!

I definatly don't want to rebuild this one or ever replace another one.

h2odrx · 11-22-2005, 09:36 PM

let me get this right, the switch is on the column almost under the dash? when did ford start this and when did they change it? i want to say they did it in the 80's i seem to remember a 79 which the switch was in the dash, i can remember about the 90's though. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Mr_Roboto · 11-23-2005, 03:24 PM

When the switch moved from the dash to the column the setup changed. (79 in dash, 80 in column).

The confusing part is we all call what you put the key in the ignition switch, when in reality all it is is the lock.

DevoK12RS · 11-23-2005, 08:02 PM

So what exactly do I need to take apart and clean? Mine seems to work better if the steering wheel is pushed all the way down. I thought I was crazy (still might be) until I started reading here about linkages, what I thought was the ignition switch is only a lock, the switch is somewhere else.....

I don't think I need to take care of this immediately as the problem isn't *that* bad, but I know it's comin'....

Thanks,
Devo

h2odrx · 11-23-2005, 09:57 PM

so the one in the dash is a key lock switch?
and the 80's the key is a lock and the metal rod goges down to the switch right?
what about the newer ones?
what points would need lubed?

MB97PSD · 11-24-2005, 07:43 AM

I think the metal rod that is being referred to is the one inside the column. If I remember it acually looks llke a horse shoe with a piece cast off the back. It is all potmetal and can not be repaired. Its function is to lock and unlock the column shift lever if you have an automatic(I don't know about standards). When it breaks, you are stuck. You may get the truck to start, but can not get the truck into gear. Lucky for me it happened to be in the garage before I left for work, otherwise the truck would have left me stranded. It must happen fairly often because the dealer knew exactly what I need, but like always they had to order it. So, long story short, I would lube that bad boy up. Mine was stiff and that is when that piece broke. Matt

86f3504x4 · 11-25-2005, 12:58 PM

anyone have the part # for the potmetal piece? I went to my dealer and they have no clue what it is and cant find it on the computer

Fordiesel69 · 11-26-2005, 06:18 PM

Dumb question, what is potmetal?

cdnsarguy · 11-26-2005, 11:45 PM

If you went to a Ford dealer and they do not know, I would find another dealer. Most dealers carry a stock of them cuzz it's a major problem. Do a search for pot metal.

Baar · 11-29-2005, 03:27 PM

Just a word of warning. If you drop the column on an automatic equiped truck, make sure you disconnect the little cable that connects to the dash shift indicator. It breaks real easy and won't let the column go all of the way down if still connected and unbroken.
John