Ignition switch (key)

[69halfton]

Ive been trying for quite some time now to get my ignition switch out of the dash. i loosened the silver plate that is supposed to loosen, and it spins freely now as many times as you want. the switch itself will not remove from the plate no matter what i do.

anybody else had this problem?

any tricks?

[dakman]

did this yesterday... turn the key to the accessory position CCW and insert a straightened paperclip into the small hole next to the key... then turn the key a little further CCW and jiggle it apart while pushing the paperclip in.

[ChevyDude]

look at the little hole near where you insert the key. You need to stick a paper clip into that hole then do some turning....I believe you need to turn to the left and the key part will come out.

[lks dcvn]

- sometimes they stick and you have to wiggle them a bit - if it doesn't come right out - then make sure you are pushing in when you turn it counter-clockwise (you only have to move it about 1/8" for it to just pop out...the hardest part is the point at which you must push the paperclip in and turn the key to the left...)

[chevy_mike]

I fought with mine on three different days, for a total of about 2 hours. It finally popped out doing what is said above.

You do have to turn it to ACC before you push in with the paperclip (actually I used a small allen wrench, as I kept bending paperclips).

[69halfton]

okay, so heres my next problem.

the P.O of my truck installed some sort of alarm system that would activate if the hood was opened etc. there are a series of little chips, and its tapped into the igntion key area, as well as the fuse panel. the alarm system hasn't worked in quite some time. What i need is, does anybody have a wiring diagram of the ignition wiring setup on a stock 69 with a 350?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

[john]

Found this in FAQ. Hope it helps.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=185665

[69halfton]

thanks, john, but i have poured over this diagram several times in my search. im looking specifically for the wiring to and from the ignition key switch...

anybody?

somebody point it out in that diagram maybe?

[dakman]

it's in the diagram he refered you to... just a sec I'll see if I can crop it out for ya.

[dakman]

ok here you go...


red is hot + from battery
large purple is your starter solenoid trigger wire
small purple is to your neutral safety switch
brown in - brown/white tracer out is your alternator voltage idiot light test
pink is your key switched distributor lead
tan in - tan out is your brake warn idiot light test
green in - green out is your oil pressure idiot light test

thats it.

[69halfton]

thanks alot dakman.

man do i feel stupid, but im not very good at reading wiring diagrams.

i belive 12P is the wire i need to trace, its the wire going to the coil on the distrubuter from the key switch.

in the diagram, 12P runs off the edge of the diagram, but it never comes back, i cant find it where all the other wires start.

can anybody find this?

...its probably something stupid that i shoulda thought of on my own aha

[john]

Look at the upper pic in the diagram and you will see where these wires continue at the top right side.

[dakman]

that 12 pink wire feeds from the the ignition to the ignition unfused at the fuseblock then back out through the firewall to the engine firewall harness in the drip rail. This is the one that I use for my HEI as it's full voltage when the key is on. My truck is a 72 but It should be similar.