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Cadillac Repair/1979 Coupe deVille jammed ignition switch

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Expert: - 5/25/2010


Question
QUESTION: I've had my 79 coupe in storage for a year. Went to start it today and the ignition switch wouldn't turn to engage the starter. It turns counter clockwise to acc(?), but won't turn clockwise to start. Steering wheel is also locked and I can't move the gear selector out of park. Any idea as to what happened and how to fix it?

ANSWER: Hello,

The problem can be simple to fix. I am wondering if the wheels are turned in such a way that there is excessive pressure on the steering wheel lock pin.

Try turning the steering wheel with pressure both ways one side at a time while rotating the igntion lock to on using the winged thumb tab.

Let me know if this works.

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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The wheels were straight and the ignition was locked solid. Tried putting pressure on the steering wheel several times. Nothing happened. Kicked the front tires. Tried again later and steering wheel unlocked and ignition turned. Car started right up. Only problem is that the key doesn't want to "spring" back from start to run position. It must be manually turned back. Perhaps its corroded? Sprayed some lube in the ignition switch, hope it helps. Thank you for your advice, it stopped me from needlessly disassembling the column. Any comments on the ignition switch? Thanks again.

Answer
Hello,

If it does not spring back, the problem is not the lock cylinder and it is the internal locking mechanisms.

The column may have to be gone over eventually and if you have never worked on one, you will not get it back together. I still on occasion go through these steering columns and repair them when they are sent to me.

Try it for a while and if you continue to have problems contact me.

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Rob Painter

Expertise

Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience

Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

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