Ignition Switch / Key Cylinder replacement

[hecmanortiz]

My FB left me stranded earlier this week. The key would not turn out of the Lock position. The car has been hard to start in the mornings so the switch gets a workout and the key is old, thin and worn out. The steering wheel lock wasn't the culprit as I was able to move past that. I was able to get it started after about 10 minutes of fiddling with it but no longer trust the assembly. The key does not return from the START to the ON position easily so I figure it's shot.
I purchased a complete assembly with door and hatch locks from eBay and started to install it till it dawned on me that the dash has to be moved up so I can loosen the two special screws and remove the old assembly. I've removed some trim pieces, the turn signal/wiper switch assembly but can't figure out how to move the dash just above the switch assembly to move.
Is there a writeup about this anywhere? I couldn't find it in the service manual.

Thanks for any/all help.

Hector

[N.RotaryTech]

I just got done removing my dash a week ago.
But I don't think all this is necessary for what you want to do.
You can probably get to it by taking off the steering column surround.

But you want to...



Is what you have done so far look something like this?

Up to this point was pretty simple.

But if you have to remove the top part of the dash, there are some nuts to pay attention to.
(BTW, if you can find another way to deal with your problem than taking the top of the dash off, go for it. This was a pita, And I just feel like posting how I took my dash apart.)
You can see how I did it here: http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_...ad.php?t=14744

[dabranco]

Why noy just drop the steering column? It would be a hell of a lot easier then removing the whole dash. I need to replace my switch as well and it seems easier to do it by dropping the column, unless there are hidden screws for the switch as well.

[j_tso]

Weird, I didn't have to take out the dash to remove the steering lock. After removing the column switches, you should be able to see the break off screws. I cut notches into the tops with a dremel and was able to use a flathead screwdriver to take them out.

[hecmanortiz]

I was able to move the steering column down and hold it down far enough with a rachet to hit the breakaway screws with a chisel and hammer. I found the procedure in the serivice manual but it was listed as removing the steering lock. As far as the screws, I JB welded some thin 8mm nuts to the tops and hope they hold long enough to torque the screws down before breaking off. I won't be able to do anything with it for a while as I'm going on vacation.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help

Hector

[IH8DSM]

Originally Posted by j_tso

Weird, I didn't have to take out the dash to remove the steering lock. After removing the column switches, you should be able to see the break off screws. I cut notches into the tops with a dremel and was able to use a flathead screwdriver to take them out.

Definitely the easier way haha, those damn lock cylinders same thing happened to mine

[djmtsu]

Yeah, the lock cylinder is easy.

-remove column covers (if you still have them)
-remove 2 steering column bolts
-lower column
-use a Dremel to make slots in the top of the breakaway bolts
-use a small flathead screwdriver to remove

Easy cheezy.