Ignition Switch Problem
 

With the steering wheel unlocked, turn the ignition key cw, 135 degrees and the key stops. Does not make it to the point of starting. Will jiggle the key and it does not seem to make a difference. Remove the key and retry and after a few times, the key rotates through and the car starts.

Battery is charged and I’ve lubricated the key internals. Is it fair to assume that this is not an electrical problem but instead a mechanical one within the switch mechanism? Is there anything that is tied to the ignition sequence that would prevent the key from rotating? Any recommendations would be appreciated; get a new key, replace the tumbler, other repair? Thanks.

My 81 SC had the same symptoms. The key would sometimes be hard to insert and when I went to the "start" position....nothing. If I inserted/removed the key a few times, it would then activate the starter and start. It got worse and worse fairly quickly and I was almost stranded the last time. I ended up replacing the entire ignition switch (tumbler and electrical pieces) just last week.....$550 for the part...ouch. Anyway, works perfectly now. I just need to carry two keys now on the ring. One for the door and one for the ignition, which is no problem.

Mike

I recently had the same problem. There have been some previous posts to this which you might search for. In my case the spring action at the end of the key rotation where the starter kicks in went away, after several tries it would come back and start.

After reading some of the posts it looked like a difficult job replacing the mechanical part of the switch, it would help if you were a very small person and able to stand on your head while doing the work. Some of the posts suggested flooding the key way with oil. I used an Aviation product called Corrosion-X. I stuck the straw end of the nozzle all the way into the key way, then flooded it until a lot of black stuff came out, then finally it went clear.

It worked, I haven't had a problem since... However I caution you to put rags under the switch behind the dash and on your carpet. Better yet take the front carpet out under the dash. You might also try one of the contact cleaners and spray that in there first. If you have to replace the switch anyway it doesn't hurt to try flushing it first. Your right it's a mechanical issue, not an electrical problem. I think!