ignition switch removal
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fastback_1971
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:43 pm
ignition switch removal
How exactly do i remove the lock and tumblers? By removing this, will the steering wheel lock be disabled too? I use a universal switch because mine went out on me and i get tired of putting in two keys to start the car (one to take off the steering wheel lock and one to start it). Thanks
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raygreenwood
- Posts: 11907
- Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am
You have a 1971? then you should have the late style steering wheel right?
(1) pop-off the center horn button cover...thats the big black bone shaped cover with the wolfsburg crest. If yours is a little3" round button....then you have the early wheel...but it should be close.
(2) Get a 24mm socket and after marking with a pucnh...take the nut off that holds the wheel on.
(3) Take teh upper black plastic split cover off of the steering column. It has two phillips screws accessable from underneath. If the top of the cover is pinched between the dahs and teh column...you will need a 6mm allen to loosen the two bolts that hold the steering column tube up under the dash. They may also be 13mm bolts. Just loosen them...then take off the plastic cover.
(4) You now can reach under the dash and pull the plug from teh back of the ignition switch., Then...pull the two flat plugs that connect wipers, blinkers and brights. they only fit back one way so don't worry.
(5) drain the air from your wiper system....and pull both lines loose...carefully from teh barbs on the left hand side. Plug the supply line with a bolt or it will drain teh wiper tank into your floorboards.
(6) You are now looking at the top of the blinker/flasher lever assembly with the steering wheel shaft sticking out of the center. Remove the four small flat head screws. They are long winded and may not pull all theway out.
(7) Now...grasp both levers..and carefully jiggle and pull and the whole blinker lever assembly pulls out.
(8) look down into the hole now. You will see a fat snap ring holding in teh steering shaft bearing. To the left...you will see two flat heads screws. Remove them. A shaped bezel will come off in your hand.
(9) Since you have already pulled the plugs....if your key is still handy.....put in into the lock and turn it to unlock the parking lock...and the entire tumbler and switch assembly slides right out. You will see a very small jewelers screwdriver flat blade screw about halfway down. Unscrew it...do not lose it! The switch portion drops out the bottom.
(10) to remove the tumber...locate a snall 3/32 hole with shiny spring metal winking at you from inside. It is about 1/2 from where the key goes in. Depress the metal spring underneath ...through that hole...with a small screwdriver or pick...and the tumbler assembly slides out complete.
(11) If you have lost your key...and you had the original door locks ....same key as the ignition...simply pull a door handle...read the number engraved on the handle...and have a new key cut for $20...done.
(12) if for some reason you have no key, have broken the key off in the gnition....or haver no reference for the key #...then you can take an 0-ring pick...or a 2mm hex key with most of the short end cut off...and reach down teh side and depress the inner spring catch through that small hole in the side. The tumbler will then slide out...and you can push back the ignition lock with your fingers and pull out the switch unit and housing. Ray
(1) pop-off the center horn button cover...thats the big black bone shaped cover with the wolfsburg crest. If yours is a little3" round button....then you have the early wheel...but it should be close.
(2) Get a 24mm socket and after marking with a pucnh...take the nut off that holds the wheel on.
(3) Take teh upper black plastic split cover off of the steering column. It has two phillips screws accessable from underneath. If the top of the cover is pinched between the dahs and teh column...you will need a 6mm allen to loosen the two bolts that hold the steering column tube up under the dash. They may also be 13mm bolts. Just loosen them...then take off the plastic cover.
(4) You now can reach under the dash and pull the plug from teh back of the ignition switch., Then...pull the two flat plugs that connect wipers, blinkers and brights. they only fit back one way so don't worry.
(5) drain the air from your wiper system....and pull both lines loose...carefully from teh barbs on the left hand side. Plug the supply line with a bolt or it will drain teh wiper tank into your floorboards.
(6) You are now looking at the top of the blinker/flasher lever assembly with the steering wheel shaft sticking out of the center. Remove the four small flat head screws. They are long winded and may not pull all theway out.
(7) Now...grasp both levers..and carefully jiggle and pull and the whole blinker lever assembly pulls out.
(8) look down into the hole now. You will see a fat snap ring holding in teh steering shaft bearing. To the left...you will see two flat heads screws. Remove them. A shaped bezel will come off in your hand.
(9) Since you have already pulled the plugs....if your key is still handy.....put in into the lock and turn it to unlock the parking lock...and the entire tumbler and switch assembly slides right out. You will see a very small jewelers screwdriver flat blade screw about halfway down. Unscrew it...do not lose it! The switch portion drops out the bottom.
(10) to remove the tumber...locate a snall 3/32 hole with shiny spring metal winking at you from inside. It is about 1/2 from where the key goes in. Depress the metal spring underneath ...through that hole...with a small screwdriver or pick...and the tumbler assembly slides out complete.
(11) If you have lost your key...and you had the original door locks ....same key as the ignition...simply pull a door handle...read the number engraved on the handle...and have a new key cut for $20...done.
(12) if for some reason you have no key, have broken the key off in the gnition....or haver no reference for the key #...then you can take an 0-ring pick...or a 2mm hex key with most of the short end cut off...and reach down teh side and depress the inner spring catch through that small hole in the side. The tumbler will then slide out...and you can push back the ignition lock with your fingers and pull out the switch unit and housing. Ray
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fastback_1971
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:43 pm
, thank you for the in-depth response. Do you know if removing the ignition switch assembly would disable the steering wheel lock? I do have the early steering wheel with the half-moon horn ring. thanks-
raygreenwood
- Posts: 11907
- Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am
When you pull the wheel and then pull the blinker/wiper assembly out....you can actually see the top of the bar of the lock where it engages the welded lugs in the steering column. That is teh steering lock. When you pull the actual tumbler assembly out...the lock bar can then be simply pushed back on its spring and teh whole lock/switch assembly slides out. So if for some reason you lost your key and teh column is locked.....its easy to start the car...by simply pulling the plug out of the bottom of the switch and plugging in a spare switch...and turning with a screwdriver. Of course...that does not unlock the existing lock in teh steering wheel...so yes...you need to remove everything to get down to the point where you can insert your small metal pick into the hole in teh side of the tumbler unit and remove the tumbler to release the lock. I find that a 2mm hex key with most of teh short angle cut-off...is great for pushing in teh catch when you are in this position. Ray