Ignition switch/lock problem
 

My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and lock
has never given any trouble until today.

Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went
"crunch", and when it got to the start position nothing happend.

The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home
(thank goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to
work until it's fixed but what to fix?

I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but the
starter never engages.

Thanks!

Jeff DeWitt

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and
> lock has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went
> "crunch", and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home
> (thank goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to
> work until it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but
> the starter never engages.

Not having the book on your model I'm going to take a wild running guess.

My guess is the switch broke. Depending on the model this switch is
located down the column and not up by the actual key.

Suspect yours looks like this.
http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/par...ailed/458.html
Can't find one for the 96, that's up to 94.


--
DougW

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and
> lock has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went
> "crunch", and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home
> (thank goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to
> work until it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but
> the starter never engages.

Not having the book on your model I'm going to take a wild running guess.

My guess is the switch broke. Depending on the model this switch is
located down the column and not up by the actual key.

Suspect yours looks like this.
http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/par...ailed/458.html
Can't find one for the 96, that's up to 94.


--
DougW

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and
> lock has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went
> "crunch", and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home
> (thank goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to
> work until it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but
> the starter never engages.

Not having the book on your model I'm going to take a wild running guess.

My guess is the switch broke. Depending on the model this switch is
located down the column and not up by the actual key.

Suspect yours looks like this.
http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/par...ailed/458.html
Can't find one for the 96, that's up to 94.


--
DougW

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

Jeff DeWitt wrote:
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and
> lock has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went
> "crunch", and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home
> (thank goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to
> work until it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but
> the starter never engages.

Not having the book on your model I'm going to take a wild running guess.

My guess is the switch broke. Depending on the model this switch is
located down the column and not up by the actual key.

Suspect yours looks like this.
http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/par...ailed/458.html
Can't find one for the 96, that's up to 94.


--
DougW

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

My vote is on the linkage between the lock set and the switch.

The lock set has a gear on the back that engages a rack that pulls a bar
that operates the switch. Your trouble is in the rack.

You have to remove the steering wheel and the steering lock ring and part of
the shrouding between the back of the steering wheel and the dash board. If
you have tilt steering, you have to take that apart as well. It's really not
very difficult, you will need a GM Steering Wheel Lock Ring Removal Tool as
the only special tool, and you can use the loaners at Autozone, or buy one
for about $10.

The turn signal switch is in your way too.





"Jeff DeWitt" <JeffDeWitt@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46a3e2e6$0$29639$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and lock
> has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went "crunch",
> and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home (thank
> goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to work until
> it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but the
> starter never engages.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeff DeWitt

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

My vote is on the linkage between the lock set and the switch.

The lock set has a gear on the back that engages a rack that pulls a bar
that operates the switch. Your trouble is in the rack.

You have to remove the steering wheel and the steering lock ring and part of
the shrouding between the back of the steering wheel and the dash board. If
you have tilt steering, you have to take that apart as well. It's really not
very difficult, you will need a GM Steering Wheel Lock Ring Removal Tool as
the only special tool, and you can use the loaners at Autozone, or buy one
for about $10.

The turn signal switch is in your way too.





"Jeff DeWitt" <JeffDeWitt@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46a3e2e6$0$29639$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and lock
> has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went "crunch",
> and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home (thank
> goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to work until
> it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but the
> starter never engages.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeff DeWitt

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

My vote is on the linkage between the lock set and the switch.

The lock set has a gear on the back that engages a rack that pulls a bar
that operates the switch. Your trouble is in the rack.

You have to remove the steering wheel and the steering lock ring and part of
the shrouding between the back of the steering wheel and the dash board. If
you have tilt steering, you have to take that apart as well. It's really not
very difficult, you will need a GM Steering Wheel Lock Ring Removal Tool as
the only special tool, and you can use the loaners at Autozone, or buy one
for about $10.

The turn signal switch is in your way too.





"Jeff DeWitt" <JeffDeWitt@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46a3e2e6$0$29639$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and lock
> has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went "crunch",
> and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home (thank
> goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to work until
> it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but the
> starter never engages.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeff DeWitt

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

My vote is on the linkage between the lock set and the switch.

The lock set has a gear on the back that engages a rack that pulls a bar
that operates the switch. Your trouble is in the rack.

You have to remove the steering wheel and the steering lock ring and part of
the shrouding between the back of the steering wheel and the dash board. If
you have tilt steering, you have to take that apart as well. It's really not
very difficult, you will need a GM Steering Wheel Lock Ring Removal Tool as
the only special tool, and you can use the loaners at Autozone, or buy one
for about $10.

The turn signal switch is in your way too.





"Jeff DeWitt" <JeffDeWitt@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:46a3e2e6$0$29639$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and lock
> has never given any trouble until today.
>
> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went "crunch",
> and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>
> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home (thank
> goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to work until
> it's fixed but what to fix?
>
> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but the
> starter never engages.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeff DeWitt

Re: Ignition switch/lock problem
 

That sounds like it fits, do you think the rack is bad? What part do I
ask for?

Is this the same bar that releases the steering lock? When the cover
was off today I could see that moving back and forth.

Thanks!

Jeff DeWitt

Jeff Strickland wrote:
> My vote is on the linkage between the lock set and the switch.
>
> The lock set has a gear on the back that engages a rack that pulls a bar
> that operates the switch. Your trouble is in the rack.
>
> You have to remove the steering wheel and the steering lock ring and
> part of the shrouding between the back of the steering wheel and the
> dash board. If you have tilt steering, you have to take that apart as
> well. It's really not very difficult, you will need a GM Steering Wheel
> Lock Ring Removal Tool as the only special tool, and you can use the
> loaners at Autozone, or buy one for about $10.
>
> The turn signal switch is in your way too.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Jeff DeWitt" <JeffDeWitt@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:46a3e2e6$0$29639$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> My 96 XJ has something like 330k on it and the ignition switch and
>> lock has never given any trouble until today.
>>
>> Got in the Jeep, turned the key and it felt like something went
>> "crunch", and when it got to the start position nothing happend.
>>
>> The dash lights come on, and with a push I got it started and home
>> (thank goodness for stick shifts!). It's now hotwired so I can get to
>> work until it's fixed but what to fix?
>>
>> I'm thinking it's the ignition switch, the key turns all the way but
>> the starter never engages.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Jeff DeWitt
>