CJ8 ignition switch problem -- strange and I'm stumped .....

I would put the key all the way back past lock to the ACC position and then try to mount the switch.

If that still didn't work, then I would try to measure the rod travel from ACC to start and then compare that measurement to the travel the switch has to see if maybe the lever on the rod has worn or something.

If none of that worked, well, I would be likely to just hot wire it with a toggle and momentary pushbutton switches if I didn't want to take the whole thing apart or needed it now. One other option is a swapped in column, they are Saginaw columns, the same as GM uses for the full sized van and camaros and others.

Mike

2000 Cherokee Sport 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG AT's, 'glass nose to tail > 1982 unmodified CJ8 6 cylinder.

Mike,

I've tried in every position and combination I can come up with..

Frustrating thing is all I did was remove what turned out to be an ok, working switch and then put it back. Nothing else.

And "i" did it, nobody but me has worked on this CJ since new in '82, so I know how it was treated; it was not damaged.

Unless there is some huge, extremely unlikely coincidence here and the rod somehow failed up in the column at the key cylinder at just this exact time -- then it should go back like it was and work!! But it won't.

I even pulled back the dash so I could get a better look; a better viewing angle at least .. it seems like the rod is going correctly. The switch can only mount one way, with some up/down the column adjustment. This would seem not to be rocket science.

So I'm going into the column from the top and at least take a look there.

As you may remember I live way south of you, so I am driving this on occasion when I need to use the extended bed by letting the switch hang by the wiring harness and using a screw driver on the switch to get it started; then again to shut it down.

I thought about the momentary switch resolution .. if I have to do that do you happen to know which wires coming off the now hanging switch I'd need to splice the switch into??

That may be what I have to do.

Mike

The switch can be installed two ways, but only works in one of them.

But, the linkage inside the column can break. I had tilt steering on my CJ, and the tilt stuff for the ignition linkage broke. I forget the malfunction -- other than the key didn't work right anymore.

No, it isn't.

Jeep is in my garage/shop. Issues began when it had failed to start and I incorrectly diagnosed this switch as the problem .. turned out to be the starter relay.

But when I tried to reinstall the switch I end up with the problems/symptoms you have read.

I am actually using the CJ right now by letting the switch hang under the dash and working it to start/stop the engine with a screwdriver .. which is also how I know the switch itself is working.

And I now have two switches -- one the original and one a replacement. I took the replacement and 'reamed out' the bolt holes so I could adjust this switch even more than the original design. Still no joy.

Not making sense to me ..

Mike

Bill, you are frustrating him. He said three times that he's not removed the lockset. He's only take the switch off of its mount on the steering column, now he can't get it back on correctly.

Never frustrated when people try to help me -- Jeff describes the issue/problem here very succinctly ..

Mike

Well, you KNOW the switch works.

I assume you know by now that it can be mounted upside down, so you're not doing that anymore.

You're moving the slide with a screw driver, so you should have found the hole that the rod fits into.

I'm running out of ideas. My CJ5 (should be the same as your CJ8) had tilt steering, and the linkage that lets the rod go around the corner that is created by the tilt had broken. I could turn the key, but the linkage didn't do it's job. I forget exactly, but I recall having trouble with the lockset. In any case, I also pulled my starter switch from the base of the steering column and discovered that I could put it back in with the rod in the wrong place, but I don't remember the symptom set. You could be putting the rod in correctly, but have broken the linkage.

Are you sure that you put the switch onto the little plate correctly, then mounted the plate to the right hole on the steering column?

You should be able to hold the rod with one hand and turn the key with the other, and feel if the linkage is connected properly. If you have tilt steering, you need the linkage that goes where the tilt joint is. It wasn't hard to replace, and I got mine from Pep Boys. There is a company, HELP Brand, that makes a wide assortment of these kinds of parts. They come in a blister pack (typically) and are located out on the floor of the major retailers. I don't remember, but I think the part was about ten bucks.

You need a GM Lock Ring removal tool -- $10-ish, or borrowed from AutoZone -- and a steering wheel puller. The linkage you're looking for is hiding under the turn signal switch.

Bill,

This is what's making me crazy .. I'm trying to put back the actual switch that came with this CJ8 when I purchased it new back in 1982. The one that came with it and worked all these years.

The CJ has never been in a shop or worked on by anyone but me which is why I can be sure.

Important point you make, and that is one thing I can be certain about. This is the correct switch.

Thanks to everyone for thinking about this ... still trying .....

Mike

Well then Jeff, it would work, if the switch were the right size.

-Bill

I am voting on the coincidence. Maybe all the trying you did before fixing the problem was the final straw on a worn linkage?

Mike

snipped-for-privacy@murklago> Mike,

Revising and continuing to try and solve this old problem .. have been starting the CJ with a screwdriver and I'm getting tired of that.

Now I know the problem is NOT with the ignition switch low on the column, but with getting that rod to move far enough to work.

Took the dash apart enough to see that the rod from the top of the column does not travel far enough to work the ignition switch .. whether pushed by hand or by turning the keytumbler it only has a travel of about 1/2 what it needs to in order to work the ignition switch. (I can grab the rod and watch the key appear to go through all its positions .. but the rod itself has moved only a little bit. Or I can move the rod using the key .. same results.) The key/key tumbler 'seems' to turn freely and the rod does not appear to bind. Just does not have enough travel.

So should I assume the problem is with what the Jeep Manual calls the "LOCK BOLT" and/or "LOCK RACK"?

I pulled the steering wheel and got down to what the Jeep Manual calls the "housing and shroud to column jacket" -- thats how she sits right now. I loosened the 4 bolts that seem to hold this part, but it doesn't seem to want to come loose and I'm afraid to force it.

And once I do .. what will I see?

I have not tried to remove the lock cylinder .. would that be helpful and should I remove it??

Any help will be very much appreciated .....

Mike

Pull the lock cylinder (watch the little plastic piece) and check the end of the assembly. There is a lug on the end that pushes the rod and best I remember, it is in constant contact with the rod. I do remember noticing that the one I took out was pretty well worn (it's just pot metal). A quick check is whether the rod moves continuously throughout the rotation of the key.

After market igniti> Revising and continuing to try and solve this old problem .. have been

Thanks for the suggestion but no joy yet.

Already had a replacement lock cylinder so I replaced the original with the new. No good results.

Looked at the gears that are worked with the lock cylinder installed .. they all appeared good. (

) But even without the ignition cylinder in place, and moving these gears by moving the rod to the ignition switch .. there is NOT enough movement to work the ignition switch.

And at some point I've now managed to get the gears I can see (ones in the image referenced above) off the other gears .. so I can move the rod and the gears shown above don't move. I can get these gears back on, but of course then they appear to be not correctly adjusted and still the rod won't move far enough.

I'm losing ground here, and now the CJ is not drivablle.

Another wasted afternoon. Owned this cj8 since new in 82; but at the moment am sick of it and thinking it might make a great hunk of melted metal?!

Any suggestions please ....

Mike

Bill,

No .. the problem is with the rod that connects the key cylinder to the ignition switch .. it won't travel as far as it needs to travel to work the ignition switch by turning the key.

Today I replaced the key cylinder .. that rod just won't go far enough.

Can you or somebody else please tell me how to get access to the lock rack. It may just need to get correctly reinstalled .. but so far I haven't been able to get to it.

Desperate now .. and thanks for any help ....

Mike