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Cold Weather ignition switch stiffness |
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White70JavelinSST
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Aug/08/2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 4867 |
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Posted: Jan/30/2019 at 12:10pm |
Today in SW MN the high is predicted at 20 some degrees below zero Fahrenheit. My 92 K1500 pickup truck's ignition switch was tough to get it to move at all, took both sets of fingers and hands. It was really stiff temperature was -30 F when I tried. I wrapped on the steering column a couple times with the key cylinder in the "START" position and the switch caught and turned over the engine. The above experience immediately reminded me, although I haven't driven the White70 in subfreezing temperatures since the fall of 2017 that, The White70Javelin has the same issue, but it starts acting up about 30 to 40 degrees above zero. I assume it's because I've never had it apart in 50 years of ownership. I guess there's grit and jellied lubricants that prevent it from moving freely in cold temperatures. I hate to have to pull the column, disassemble it to clean and fresh lube the mechanism, and I certainly don't want to get the new carpet messy. Is there a way to remedy this without removing the steering column? If not I guess I'll pull and clean it all up and put in a new ignition switch while I'm at it. Thanks
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70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972
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knightflight
AMC Nut Joined: Jan/30/2014 Location: Nor. Calif. Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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You don't have to remove the column, but you need to remove the wheel to release the tumbler, or down under the column if you need to service the switch.
Walt |
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'68 Rebel SST coupe. (X2) '69 SC/Rambler (#7 on registry) '69 Javelin SST Go-Pak 390-4 speed '70 Rebel Machine 4spd '72 Javelin AMX 360 ram-air |
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ccowx
AMC Addicted Joined: Nov/03/2010 Location: Yukon Status: Offline Points: 3510 |
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Funny, I have found the same thing in my 70. I have it in a garage that is about 20 degrees F and it sticks just a bit. I have not tried it below that temperature, though once warm I have driven it around the cul de sac at -20. Traction is not great with a set of near bald F70-14 Polyglas GT's, let me tell yah!
Chris
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knightflight
AMC Nut Joined: Jan/30/2014 Location: Nor. Calif. Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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Actually, I meant to mention, sometimes on those, the problem is actually between the tumbler and the column. If you dribble a bit of oil like WD40 in between the key tumbler and the column as you move the unit on and off, it sometimes does the job!
Walt |
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'68 Rebel SST coupe. (X2) '69 SC/Rambler (#7 on registry) '69 Javelin SST Go-Pak 390-4 speed '70 Rebel Machine 4spd '72 Javelin AMX 360 ram-air |
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mixed up
AMC Addicted Joined: Jun/16/2015 Location: Monroe mich Status: Offline Points: 2156 |
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the tumbler runs a rack witch run a rod down to the switch it could be the grease is all stiff form age you can pull it and grease I up by remove wheel then remove the screw that hold tumble in location put some light grease on he tumbler gear and rack
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69 amx 290 auto
65 220 290 4spd 80 ford fairmont |
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White70JavelinSST
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Aug/08/2012 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 4867 |
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Thanks guys, I'll have to look into that. For some reason I have this aversion to disassembling the steering column. I guess I'm afraid something will go ge-sproing into the depths of the shop and I'll never find it back. I've had the wheel off several times because that crazy little button thing that runs the horn wants to move around in there and then the horn won't work. Anyway, looks like the column has to come out again. Not chancing getting lube on the fresh black carpet. Thanks again everyone.
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70 Javelin SST, second owner, purchased 1972
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6PakBee
Supporter of TheAMCForum Charter Member Joined: Jul/01/2007 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 5454 |
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Roger Gazur
1969 'B' Scheme SC/Rambler 1970 RWB 4-spd Machine 1970 Sonic Silver auto AMX All project cars. Forum Cockroach |
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304-dude
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/29/2008 Location: Central Illinoi Status: Offline Points: 9081 |
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As a side note to sticky GM ignition switches. If anyone has an original, the grease dries with age. A new switch is much smoother than an old origninal.
If need be, one can remove the switch and disassemble clean the contacts and remove the old grease. Then lube the plasic body along the sliding parts, not the at the metal contact areas, with synthetic wheel bearing grease, before re-assembly. My OEM 10 year old switch back in 84 was a mess from heat dry out being in the hot San Jose area most of its life. Its sliding action greatly improved by such a job. It was so bad that it stuck in on position once i removed the key, and i had to quickly bump the start position while quickly switching to off position (Cringe) to allow the internal spring to kick the slider back enough to disengage the on position. It would have properly turned off if the switch was in proper adjustment. Unbeknownst to me at the time, until i diagnosed what was going on. Believe it or not, the switch hole where the rod end is held, happens to be slightly slotted, not round. So it is critical to set the switch location proper so that the rod can actually set the switch to off posistion when the rod is set by the key tumber lock mechinism. |
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71 Javelin SST body
390 69 crank, 70 block & heads NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons 78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low 50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension 79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker |
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