911 Ignition Switch Problems

[HappyMotoring]

I need help. I've been responsible for a 84 SC that I purchased for my father a few years back. A wonderful car except for this ignition problem. The ignition switch, electrical portion, grenaded awhile back and I replaced it, no small feat considering that top screw. The car has sat for a few months and another person was to take the car to my father in a different state and got to the gas station 100 miles down the road and now the ignition will not engage the starter, the spring action is completely gone..WHY? The switch is new and I recall that the spring action is in that switch, but I may be wrong...is it something else? I dont look forward to replacing that switch again..

[ianc]

Could it be that the electrical portion just came loose from the tumblers?

ianc

[HappyMotoring]

I wish it was...I ended up pulling the electrical portion off again and can only think that the tumbler part is worn enough to not fully engage the elecrical part....still has me scratching my head

[madmmac]

I did this last December to mine and have had zero problems since. The key feels like it is engaging the switch, but it is not.

My key tumbler/ignition switch was not turning all the way into the engage starter position...turn the key and it was like hittting a wall prior to engaging the starter. This started out as happening every so often, but then, lucky for me it quit all together inside my garage.

I sprayed in some brake cleaner followed by using a magnetized mini flat screwdriver and massaged both the upper and lower tumblers inside the switch. I then went with WD-40 and repeated the process with the screwdriver and then my key.

Finally after a bunch of in and out (not the fun kind) I tried the key and bam, it worked. Tried it a few more times and everything seems to be good.