Ignition switch

[opelgtboy70]

Hey all. I just got around to putting in my rebuilt ignition switch from OPGTS that I bought over a year ago and have an issue. I put the switch in and everything worked great. I went back a few hours later to put the rest of the steering column together and after it was together I turned the key to make sure. Nothing, the car wound not start. After playing around with the switch and the bad one from another car I have a question. If I have the switch in my hand and put a phillips head screw driver in it and turn it will I eventually feel a spring that will turn the screwdriver back? Does this spring make the key go back after I try to start it? When I try to use the screwdriver with the rebuilt switch, I dont feel a spring, it just stops. Will this stoppage stop me from starting the car. I hear a click up front from the otto start and my idiot lights light up in the dash.


karl
70 GT

[opelgtboy70]

why didnt this go to the main new post page?

Karl

[opelbits]

Did you synch up the switch phillips cross and the key cylinder? If the cross was turned clockwise and the key cylinder counterclockwise when installing, then the switch may have been turned too far and broke when you turned the key. Did you try starting the car the first time?

On a related side note, the installation has to be synched correctly for the key position to correspond to the switch positions. It can be very close and still be wrong. I had that problem on my GT when I bought it. The steering wheel lock barely retracted when the car was running. If it slipped a little while driving, it could potentially lock my steering while driving.

[opelgtboy70]

The car started the first time when I tried, thats why I left t finish it later. Is there a spring inside the switch that turns the key back after you start the car in the start position? If I hear a click at the Otto start relay, is the switch working?

Karl

[Turbo X]

there should return to the on position after stating just like any car ignition switch, if it stays in the start position then you have a problem with the return spring... or you haven't reach the spring yet ... use a ohm meter test the switch ...

[opelbits]

if I recall correctly, there are 4 positions to the switch, but I don't recall offhand how the first two are set up.

Looking at it from the phillips cross side (key cylinder side), starting all the way to the left is the Accessory position, then OFF, then 'ON', then "START". The spring turns the key from 'START' back to 'ON'.

As I said, the first two positions may be reversed. The first position being 'OFF' and the second is 'Accessory'.

I'm inclined at the moment to think that position one is 'OFF'. I know some cars, but not necessarily Opels have the Accessory position all the way to the left (towards the driver).

[Turbo X]

my schematic shows ,,,, lock , off, run , start

[opelgtboy70]

The problem is in the switch. The spring wasnt working. I took a screw driver and put it in the switch and turned it hard. It freed up. It worked a few times and then it stuck again, so something is wrong inside the switch. I hope OPGTS has one so I can get to carilisle.

Karl
70 Gt