replacing ignition

I'm trying to replace my ignition switch. (Sometimes the car won't start
at all--problem is solved by wiggling the key.)
I've got steering column wrapper apart and the top piece off (maybe that
wasn't necessary...), and I removed the column adjustment handle. But
between the steering wheel, the igntion switch, and the dashboard, the
bottom piece won't come off.
Anybody know the trick?

 

It might help for us to know the make/model/year! 8^)

Short of that, there often are screws (typically 2) that you access from
underneath in recessed holes - you would have to turn yourself upside
down under the steering column to see to remove them - might be
phillips, might be torx. If there's a tilt wheel release lever, you
might have to remove that too (again - typically 2 screws, accessed from
the side).

Short of your posting the vehicle description so someone here familiar
with it can give a specific answer to your question, pay www.alldata.com
$25 for a year's subscription to the FSM data (and full TSB access as a
bonus) that will come in handy for this particular job as well as future
stuff since it's obvious you are operating at some level of DIY'ing.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

I have a '96 Concorde LX 3.3. I've already removed 5 torx screws to loosen
the two plastic pieces that cover the steering column (one for the top, one
for the bottom, and I took off the steering wheel height-adjustment handle.
I've detached the plastic shield pieces, but I can't get the bottom piece out
of the way because it's wedged in, and that's the piece I need to remove
because it covers up the ignition switch.
Thanks.

 

OK - The wedging is due to the steering wheel being tilted more down
than up. The step before removing the tilt lever is to tilt your
steering wheel all the way up, *then* remove the tilt lever.

All you need to do at this point is re-attach the tilt lever, tilt the
wheel up, then remove the tilt lever. That won't take but a minute.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Thanks, I appreciate your advice.
I did raise the steering wheel all the way up before starting any of this.
Also, I found that I can still adjust the tilt by pulling on the plate to which
the adjustment lever attaches. This lets me tilt up the column a teeny bit more
than the highest rest point.
But I still can't get the housing off.

 

Hmmm - unless someone who is familiar with that specific vehicle comes
on, you may have to bite the bullet and do the AllData thing, with the
risk that the FSM did a little hand-waiving on the instructions and
doesn't tell you any more than you already know.

How much interference is there? Any chance you can force it without
breaking it?

So it's wedged between the steering wheel and what? Any possibility of
removing whatever is on the underside that's binding it up (lower dash
trim pieces maybe)?

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Should have said "...between the steering column and what?".

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Make sure there isn't a 3rd screw underneath right in the center in a deep
recess.
If all else fails go buy a Hayes service manual for your specific vehicle -
typically $7 - $15.
They are certainly nothing like a factory service manual but you can do most
repairs using one.

 

just curious -- was your problem of the engine cranking over but not
starting or just not cranking at all. The past month or so, a problem
started with mine where you would turn the key and it would crank but not
start. I would turn it off and try again and then it would start. Doesn't
happen 100% of the time. When my fuel pump went out I thought this might
have caused it, not getting fuel all the time, but it's even happening after
I had the fuel pump replaced.

thanks,
Nick