I'm trying to switch an ignition lock cylinder between an '87 and an '89 Lebaron, each with tilt steering wheel. My problem is, the Hayne's manual for these cars doesn't give the procedure for pre-1990 models.
(As an aside - does anybody else find these manuals are just getting less and less useful? As Hayne's struggles to cover a wider and wider range of makes and models with fewer manuals, more and more of the photos and figures seem to bear captions with those awful words that strike fear into every backyard mechanic's heart: words like "typical" or "other models similar" or "may vary depending on model". I understand they're just trying to keep the books affordable, but this is really bad. In my case, they don't even give a basic procedure for more than half the model years supposedly covered by the manual.)
I assume the lock mechanism was pretty standard for a wide range of vehicles from that era. Indeed I found a detailed description of the procedure to remove the cylinder in another Hayne's manual, about Chrysler minivans. The photos and instructions matched my vehicles perfectly, right up to the last, critical step of releasing the spring latch and pulling out the lock cylinder. So I pulled the steering wheel, removed the lock plate, took out the turn signal switch, and carefully removed the key-in buzzer switch and spring.
So far so good.
Then I reached an instruction that says "insert a small screwdriver into the slot next to the boss for the switch mounting screw (the right-hand slot), depress the spring latch at the bottom of the slot, and pull out the lock."
Huh? WHAT slot? Next to WHAT "switch mounting screw"? In the previous two pages I've had instructions on removing the "turn signal switch retaining screws", "wiper-washer switch" screw, "headlight dimmer switch" screws, "hazard flasher button" screw, "lock housing cover screws", and ignition switch mounting bolt!
So does anyone know how to release the lock cylinder on an '80's vintage Lebaron? I suppose it's possible the procedure is different from the one in the manual, which is technically not supposed to cover my vehicle. But I suspect the problem is just that the writer for Hayne's isn't being specific enough about WHICH of the dozen or so "switch mounting screws" lying within three inches of the lock cylinder I'm supposed to use for reference.
Thanks in advance for any help...