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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Electrical => Topic started by: Beststash on October 11, 2012, 03:59:58 pm
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Hi everyone :-[
I recently volunteered to help my friend, Rick, get his truck running. So here's the story.
He has a '81 half ton 305/automatic. Another neighbor borrowed the truck and when the owner recently went to start it ...nothing. The starter wouldn't do anything. He removed the starter, took it to Autozone - they said it was defective and he got another one and re-installed. (I personally don't think there was anything wrong with his original starter). Tried it - nothing. The key would turn but no spring-back from the start position at all and it will not come out of "Park".
I went over, pulled the wheel, and helped him put in a new "key cylinder" -that wasn't the problem with the "spring back" it was that funny little spring on the rack mechanism was slipping - tightened that up and then the key would spring back. Still no start and then noticed that the red lights on the dash were not coming on - tore the column apart again and found part that connects to the ignition actuator rod was broken (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y41/Beststash/000_0640_resized.jpg)
My questions are - how much further do I have to tear into the tilt column to install the new part to the actuator rod and what would be keeping the truck from shifting our of PARK - are these two related?
I appreciate any help offered.
Beststash
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You have to go down pretty deep (down to the tilt section) to replace the ignition lock rack, and it would keep it from being shifted.
See here: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,12525.0.html
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Thanks, that was very helpful. I think I have a pretty good understanding of the upper part of the column. I'm thinking it might be easier to pull the column totally to fix? I removed the two bolts under front of dash and it lowered the column a bit but not as much as I had thought - maybe if I removed the floorboard screws?
The "stuck in Park" issue - does anyone have a explanation of the column shift as it relates to the ignition rod/column? After dropping the column I took a pair of pliers and was able to move the rod to various positions but it was very hard - not easy to move as I had previously suspected and it hard no effect on being able to take it out of Park.
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It's not easier to pull the column to fix. This is extra work for no reason. You can sit on the seat and fix it right there. a dab of grease will hold your pieces in place and just be patient.
The park lock should work once you repair it. Search on here for ignition rack
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Ditto on the above. I would NOT pull the column.
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Thanks to everyone for the help. I finished the job yesterday 8) - it works like a charm. My only issue was those ball bearings on the front race of the tilt fell out. I was able to find them and put back together with a lot of grease and gently reassemble. I did have to make a list for re-assembly because after a few days between tear-down and assembly was too much for my short-term memory. Thanks to everyone for their help.
Peace