EMERGENCY!!! Ignition switch LOCKED!!

['81 Grand Prix LJ]

This afternoon, i went out out town with GP and when i came to start him again, the ignition switch LOCKED just before sending current to the starter!!!! It turns all the way from ACC. to ON but NO IGNITION!!! I've looked EVERYWHERE around and under the dash, i've even dropped the column to check the switch that is bolted ON it but NOTHING!!! Would it be the lock mechanism inside the column???? That little mechanism with the little sector and a rack???? THANKS!

 

[LOCOGOMEZ]

Are you getting any power at all to light up the instrument panel or radio?

 

['81 Grand Prix LJ]

Yes!!! ignition is the only thing i don't get, since it won't turn to that position! All power, NO crank!

 

[81Regal]

I had something like that happen to me, it was the ignition switch on the lower part of the column, it would unlock the column so you could turn the wheel but the key wouldn't turn far enough to start the car. This was on my 85 Cutlass.

 

[t01blaze]

Try wiggling the shifter, try neutral.

If that doesn't work then remove the ignition switch from the column and see if you can get to crank position with the key.

 

['81 Grand Prix LJ]

Well, after an entire day of dissassembly of lots of things (YES the ENTIRE column too LOL), the SWITCH IS DEAD!!! One HELL of a CURIOUS thing i've discovered is that the shop manual says that the LOCK is retained by a SCREW, while my column DOESN'T EVEN HAVE the screw's hole drilled in AND ...and.... I CAN'T EVEN REMOVE IT IN ANY WAYS!!!!! I've spent my entire afternoon turning it over and over and over hoping to find an issue to pop it out...NOTHING!!!! Has anyone ever experienced the same thing ?