1970 Ignition Switch Removal

[pat7582]

I’ve got a problem with the ignition switch on my 1970 and I was hoping for some advice to help me get it back on the road.

Background: The car has different keys for the doors and the ignition. The ignition switch is original, though worn. The door key will fit in the ignition switch, but until this last episode it would not work. The other morning, I unknowingly put the door key in the ignition switch. This time the door key worked and started the car. I only realized the wrong key was in the ignition switch when I tried turning the car off. The ignition switch would not go back to the 1 position (ignition off-steering locked-key can be removed position), nor the 2 position (ignition off-steering free). It was stuck in the 3 position (ignition on) and now would not turn to any other position nor could the key be removed. I tried moving the steering wheel and jiggling the key to no avail. In fact, I moved the steering wheel and jiggled the key a little too hard and the key broke off in the lock. See 1st picture. I pulled the ignition wire from the coil to turn the engine off and took the battery cable loose so as not to run down the battery.

Now I’m trying to fix the situation. I’ve removed the steering wheel and ignition switch housing to try to the ignition switch, but I cannot get the ignition switch barrel far enough out of the housing to get to the hole to release the spring holding the lock cylinder in. See 2nd picture. Since there is enough wire to push the switch barrel out, I am wondering if the plunger that activates the steering column lock might not be all the way retracted, preventing the ignition switch barrel from coming all the way out.

I’m going to try some WD-40 and gentle tapping/pulling. I will be replacing the turn signal switch since the old one broke when I removed it. I may have to remove the ignition switch wiring so I can take the column support off and send it to a VW locksmith. Any suggestions are most welcome. Thank you/pat

[Cusser]

[my3bugs]

just a thought , could you loosen the steering column under the hood , maybe then the shaft n switch both can lift up some n come out . i duno .

or does that yellow bushing come out ? that may give you wiggle room .

ya may want to look this over . for a 70 it says you dont need the key to remove the switch but a pin is needed to release the switch , that may be where you are at , i duno just trying to help

http://www.vw-resource.com/ignition_switch_replacement.html#ignition

[pat7582]

Cusser, My3bugs,
Thank you for your quick replies. I had already taken the steering column loose as My3bugs suggested. Cusser, your advice was spot on, the steering lock was indeed retracted enough. I sprayed the housing with WD-40, let it sit overnight, and it came right out. Really appreciate the advice and camradrie found on this site. VR/pat

[Bobs67vwagen]

I would suggest that you keep the broken directional switch on hand. There have been some posts on this site recently about the poor quality of the available replacement switches. I think I read that someone had to take some of the contacts out of the old switch and transfer to the replacement. Do a search on this site and get more info. Good luck Bob