1956 Buick ignition switch

[Airy Cat]

The ignition switch on my '56 Century quit working.  Does anyone know how to replace it?  Thanks

[Beemon]

You switch it to Off, then insert a paper clip into the hole and keep turning if I recall correctly. Should pop out.

Edited November 25, 2016 by Beemon (see edit history)

[NTX5467]

Seems like you PUSH in on the paper clip and then the cylinder will turn counter-clockwise and pop out.  That only gets the key cylinder out of the basic switch itself.  Then you'll need to remove whatever bezel is holding the switch assy to the instrument panel itself.  When that's done, then the switch should come ouf the backside of the holein the instrument panel, harness still attached.

 

What "quit working"?  The key won't turn, or when it does, nothing happens.  Does the "Accessory" function still work?

 

Make sure, possibly BEFORE you take the switch out, that there is continuity in the 10 gauge (probably Red) wire going into the switch.  This wire is the "master feed" wire for the switch.  It goes through the firewall in the bulkhead connector (where there is a terminal from the engine side of the firewall that interfaces with the red wire on the inside of the firewall.  There CAN be an issue there with terminal integrity/corrosion!   So make sure you have full battery voltage through that wire to the backside of the ignition switch.  What about the "Start" function using the accelerator pedal?

 

Thing is, just getting the key cylinder removed will only affect the key cylinder itself.  The electrical portion of the switch will still be in the instrument panel.

 

Please keep us posted of your progress.

 

NTX5467

[Airy Cat]

Thank you for the info.  I'll start on this om the week end.

[JohnD1956]

See post # 104 on page 5 here: http://forums.aaca.org/topic/276541-1955-buick-century/?page=5