Author Topic: Electrical problem within steering column (I believe)  (Read 2487 times)

Offline travisr1988

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Electrical problem within steering column (I believe)
« on: April 15, 2015, 10:33:16 pm »
Okay, so we had the truck running the other day to start the break in procedure and ended up stopping it 2 minutes in due to fire risk under the truck (ran temporary exhaust to fix that). That is when the key refused to turn back to off position, okay, so I replaced the ignition lock cylinder. Now it turns just fine but doesn't start, lights come on, but starter acts like its not getting power at all. So I'm disassembling the column (1979 tilt from Silverado) to find the issue, I have gotten as far as the first housing removed but still see no issue. Am I on the right track? Oh, the old lock cylinder had been put in on top of an older cylinder piece if that makes a difference.

One more thing, the column is sloppy and there is a bearing race loose just after the first spring in the column after the locking plate, how does one fix that?
1979 Chevrolet Silverado C20 rclb cammed 355/th400/4.10 - sold
1977 Chevrolet Custom Deluxe c10 rcsb stepside 355/th350/3.42
Vortec heads lunati cam edelbrock intake headers

Offline Jakethesnake73

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Re: Electrical problem within steering column (I believe)
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2015, 10:20:37 am »
Time for a column rebuild, there are good videos for it on youtube,  it involves removing everything out of the column and tightening 3 screws i think, its a very common problem on the tilt columns and my blazer has it and my Camaro had it worse.


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Offline roundhouse

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Re: Electrical problem within steering column (I believe)
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2015, 10:10:22 pm »
You may be able to adjust the switch unit at the bottom of the Collum a little
It has slotted screw holes

The key just pulls or pushes a rod that activates the electrical switches at the bottom


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