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Ignition switch

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Get Dirty, Aug 11, 2007.

  1. Aug 11, 2007
    Get Dirty

    Get Dirty New Member

    Telluride, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2005
    Messages:
    22
    Hey there,
    Have an electrical problem and cant figure it out. For the last two months I have really had to jiggle and pry my key in the ignition to get it to trigger the starter. It kept getting worse and worse and then finally (in my driveway at least) it stopped working all together. I have checked the starter, fuses, battery, and tightened all the wires. I am thinking it must be the key/ignition switch.

    What do you think, and if it is the key/ignition switch how should I go about fixing the problem. My jeep is a stock 68 Dauntless by the way.

    Any help would be great! Thanks
     
  2. Aug 11, 2007
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    Replace ignition switch.
     
  3. Aug 11, 2007
    Get Dirty

    Get Dirty New Member

    Telluride, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2005
    Messages:
    22
    ^^^^^
    Where do I find one and does that mean that I will have a new key too? Sorry never dealt with this problem before.
     
  4. Aug 11, 2007
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
    Messages:
    3,294
    Any auto parts shoud have a universal switch and key. If you want it keyed the same as you have it now your gonna have to go to a locksmith.
    Jim S.
     
  5. Aug 11, 2007
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
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    Depends on the condition of the cylinder. Look for a little hole in the face of the cylinder. Put a paper clip in the hole and turn the key, and the cylinder should pop out.

    There's a sticky thread at the top of the forum about where to buy parts.
     
  6. Aug 11, 2007
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
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    If there's no hole, look for a little push button on the body of the switch. Push that button, turn the key and the cylinder will come out. You can use the old cylinder with the new switch.

    There will be some way to release the switch from the dash. Some have a nut, some have a bezel with a bayonet lock.
     
  7. Aug 11, 2007
    russo

    russo Hope is not a method

    Norris, Tennessee
    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    Messages:
    498
    I had the same problem about a year ago and put in a new switch. Still had problems. Was not the switch at all but a bad positive battery cable making intermittent connection. I replaced the cable, cleaned up my original switch and reinstalled it. No problems since.
     
  8. Aug 11, 2007
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
    Messages:
    12,367
    Disconnect the battery ground cable before you do attempt to remove or replace the switch. Don't need a hot wire touching something.
     
  9. Aug 11, 2007
    Get Dirty

    Get Dirty New Member

    Telluride, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2005
    Messages:
    22
    Thanks guys,
    Picked up a new switch and key at Napa and I am set to go. Your help was a big deal, the closest autoparts store is 2 hours away so I didnt want to make the drive if I had no clue what I was looking for. Thanks!
     
  10. Aug 12, 2007
    1960willyscj5

    1960willyscj5 Well-Known Member

    Mesa, Arizona
    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2006
    Messages:
    2,793
    Years ago I had that problem in the CJ2A I was driving at the time.
    Being inventive and cheap (aka 'Broke') I got a household wall lightswitch outa my tool box and wired it in as an emergency ignition switch. The CJ2A came with an ignition switch without a start position, just Off/On, and a pushbutton on the dash to start. I believe it had the foot start to begin with, but that got changed when the electrical system was upped to 8-Volt. Had an 8 volt battery with a voltage reducer to 6 volts to keep the lights from burning out. Only one of those systems I ever saw. The wiring was so simple that I just had to insert the lightswitch in place of the keyswitch. 30 amp switch, worked great. Ran it a couple of months that way, before I went in and got another keyswitch.R):hurrican:
     
  11. Aug 12, 2007
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2005
    Messages:
    2,918
    FYI - The biggest killer of ignition switches is weight. Having a bunch of keys and other misc. things bouncing, swinging, and swaying around while dangling off your ignition key will bring on early switch death. It's just a simple device, it's not meant to handle those kinds of stresses. And ignition switch death brings on stresses that WE'RE not meant to handle!
     
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