Who knows ignition switches?

[Carmine]

One day, weeks ago, I shut my Magnum off at work and the switch felt "funny", like something bent as I turned it off. After that, it worked, but the key could stick in the start position. Then it became progressively harder to turn until it almost left me stranded in a friend's driveway.

(Although he's the guy with the SS/AA Cuda and the CJ Mustang, so at least he had a decent set of tools, lol.)

Anyway I took it apart tonight and I "think" the issue is the lock cylinder itself. I believe the center of this assembly should turn within the outside shell, as the outside would be in a fixed position with the steering column. In the photo, the pen points towards a spring loaded retainer that keeps the switch in place. The felt tip is pointing at another spring-loaded something (?)

Whether I push that in or not, the inner cylinder does not turn with the key inside.

Should it?

 

[Big_John]

Clearly it's the ballast resistor or the thermostat.

Sorry... Never had one of those apart, so I can't do much more than offer useless comments.

 

[Polara_500]

It should ring some bells for me as I've screwed around with similar in the past, but so far tonight I'm just drawing a blank. I kinda don't think the inner part of what's shown turns independently but it's been a few years so memory is not strong - or even less so than normal........

 

[Davea Lux]

I think one of the pins inside of your lock set has probably gotten excessively worn or broken. The quick fix would be to take the tumbler to a locksmith and have new pins installed. If you know your key number a Mopar dealer can supply a correctly configured lock for you.

Dave

 

[Carmine]

I think one of the pins inside of your lock set has probably gotten excessively worn or broken. The quick fix would be to take the tumbler to a locksmith and have new pins installed. If you know your key number a Mopar dealer can supply a correctly configured lock for you.

Dave

This is what I think as well. Just wondering if anyone here had been through this before. Steering columns are one of those mystery-parts that so rarely require any service.

 

[detmatt]

This is what I think as well. Just wondering if anyone here had been through this before. Steering columns are one of those mystery-parts that so rarely require any service.

Unless you have a ‘67/8 Imp with tilt/tele, in which case it feels like I’m over at Clovers house once every year or 2 for some sort of turn signal switch repair.

 

[Carmine]

Unless you have a ‘67/8 Imp with tilt/tele, in which case it feels like I’m over at Clovers house once every year or 2 for some sort of turn signal switch repair.
View attachment 197510

Yes, I know of those issues... when I was looking at my likely 1979-OEM switch, I was wondering if that more robust mechanism couldn't be adapted to earlier cars.

 

[66Newyorker]

Yes, the cylinder turns in the housing the black retainer keeps the assembly in place within the column. I have a question. On the later Chrysler products is the ignition key used only to start the car or like on my 66 does it also open the doors? If it’s only used for the ignition switch pick up a new lock cylinder with key. Rockauto has a listing for them about $10.00 or so.
The lock cylinder has been turned so may times over the years, a locksmith might not be able to do much with it. Lube your locks cylinder from time to time, for real dry dirty locks we would flush them out with some WD-40 then use some spray white grease. No matter what you use for a lube,flush out the dirt and old dried lube first.

 

[Clover]

The little black plastic tab that the felt pen points to is for activating the key-in-ignition buzzer. It is correct that the inner cylinder should turn inside its housing. You need a locksmith or somebody like me to see if the cylinder can be saved with a clean up and new tumblers. If there are any old Mopar dealerships in your area, the parts dept. may be able to help.