Broken ignition switch in my '86

[dfeeney]

OK Ranger Folk:

Today I got the key housing/shaft out - it did involve removing the steering wheel, but now I know how to do it. What an involved mess, though.

Anyway, the broken part is this thing, called the actuator. What I thought was three pieces:

is just one:

The broken teeth are what was causing the gear connected to the lock cylinder to not engage:

You can see the teeth inside that groove; they rotate with the key.

So I ordered the new actuator at Go Ford in Wheat Ridge ($17); it'll be here Tuesday. The worst part is that all these moving parts have a nice coating of white grease on them and it is very messy!

I guess I could have fixed this without removing the steering wheel and the key housing/shaft, but I wouldn't have been able to figure it out without looking at it up close. Live and learn!

Do any of yall know how to take the key housing shaft out on the tilt steering wheel? Its not being my friend

 

[greenrangerdanger96]

I have this same problem in a 96 ranger I wonder if its about the same to fix... I've got the switch unhooked and for now I'm just operated it by hand under the dash I'm contemplating wheter to fix the actuator or just hook up a couple toggle switches and a push button

 

[Sr. Zorro]

Hi. I am also having trouble pulling the housing off the steering shaft. I removed the circlip, but now the bearing keeps the housing from being pulled out. Does anyone know how to remove the bearing (without damaging the rubber "ring")?

 

[rm41sr]

Ignition actuator

How did you remove the housing shaft? A piece from my actuator in stuck in the shaft.

OK Ranger Folk:

Today I got the key housing/shaft out - it did involve removing the steering wheel, but now I know how to do it. What an involved mess, though.

Anyway, the broken part is this thing, called the actuator. What I thought was three pieces:

is just one:

The broken teeth are what was causing the gear connected to the lock cylinder to not engage:

You can see the teeth inside that groove; they rotate with the key.

So I ordered the new actuator at Go Ford in Wheat Ridge ($17); it'll be here Tuesday. The worst part is that all these moving parts have a nice coating of white grease on them and it is very messy!

I guess I could have fixed this without removing the steering wheel and the key housing/shaft, but I wouldn't have been able to figure it out without looking at it up close. Live and learn!

 

[jtaborsky]

How can this be done without removing the steering wheel?

 

[mikie]

How did you remove the old switch?

 

[jtaborsky]

How did you remove the old switch?

I figured it out and replaced my rack and pinion for the ignition. Which part are you trying to get out? There's the cylinder that the key goes in, there's the linkage or actuator that connects the key to the switch, and there's the switch that actually makes electrical connections.

- Joe