Ignition Switch & dead battery fix

[dochummer]

Great info! I have the same problem with my switch. Although, probably not as bad as yours. I'll probably end up replacing it sometime this summer....

[dochummer]

Ok, so I finally got around to replacing the switch. Prior to replacement, I would get the occasional dead/almost dead battery because part of the driver's info area remained lit after removing the key. I found that if I grabbed the plastic surround around where the key goes in, I could turn it forward and it would turn the PRND123... light on. If I turned it back towards me (as if I were turning the vehicle off), then it would turn off. After replacing the switch, I still have the same "problem." I can grab the plastic part and turn the "ignition" forward and the light comes on, turn it back and it goes off. Although it is about 2-3x's more difficult now to do it. So, is this normal for the vehicle? Did I install it incorrectly? I thought everything was fine, because it actually didn't do it (atleast I thought it didn't) until I replaced the steering column housing.... I'm just kinda pissed right now because it took me an hour to do it.... Otherwise, the vehicle starts just fine....

[dochummer]

Oh, and I guess the other question is whether setting the "gears" on the switch incorrectly would cause this problem?

[Sundown94]

After having my ignition switch replaced this past week (because my truck would not start), I now have this same problem that Dochummer had. Is there a way to fix this? Is the ignition switch "adjustable" so that all lights go off (and stay off) when you turn the key back and pull it out?

[IRA51]

sounds like you missed by 1 tooth,take it out and move the white gear 1 tooth .

[Sundown94]

Thanks for the tip IRA. The mechanic and I were looking at the old switch this morning (before reading your post) and were baffled as to how the white gear could be off, especially since a significantly wider notch in the gear is exposed when the switch is in the "off" position. This notch led us to believe that there could only be one way to install the switch (with the notch aligned to the key cylinder), but from reading your post, maybe this is not true.

In any event, the problem was "solved". They replaced the new ignition switch from last week with yet another new one and I can definitely feel the difference when turning the key. When the key is turned back and ready to be pulled out, all lights on the dash shut off as they are supposed to, and when I turn the key forward to start the engine, the key doesn't turn quite as far as it used to before the starter kicks in. I don't know if this difference in key travel has anything to do with the fact that it is another new switch, or if the mechanic somehow lined up the gears more accurately. I will definitely ask him what he did, but my main concern now is that everything stays working. :-)

[Eric1h]

I have the same problem as Sundown94 after replacing my switch, can the gear teeth REALLy be off? Doesnt seem that they would fit any other way.

[Contract_Pilot]

I am having a Similar Issue, Pull key out and Lights + The Radio Stays On? Remove the WS WPR 25A Fuse and it works As it Should? Would the Ignition Switch cause this? Or should I look elsewhere?