Chevy & GMC Vans

My ignition can turn without the key. I never thought that was too much of a problem until I had 4 people try to steal my van within 10 minutes.
Not fun. Now I think it's wise to change it. How do I do that?

Having done this,I suggest the easier solution would be to replace the steering column with a key from a junk yard.And if you don't have this option on your van,replace your column with a tilt steering column.

Wanted to add that I bumped the directional handle with my knee and broke the stuff inside the column.Without pulling the steering wheel and the air bag,what a hornets nest that is.On your model you would have to take off the steering wheel and dig in deep to get to the key switch.Not the best of jobs for a Sat morning.Tons faster to replace the column.Seems like a atom bomb repair,but considering how much easier it is,would be at most a two hr job.

Did you get this fixed???.

Gary is right!
( wow did I just say that out loud?? Lol)
Anyways, while a column is faster and easier to change, the price at a P&P might scare you off.
That being said. It may be still easier to get deep into the column to change the lock cylinder if you remove the column and set it on a workbench to fix.
The lock can be changed, and there was a kit from GM available for it last time I checked years ago.

i have a lock cylinder for my ignition that i haven't installed yet so if you've done it and have advice that would be great, otherwise sometime this summer i'll be undertaking this adventure alone.....

There's no way I can afford another steering column... That's not me being cheap, it's just that I would probably have to pay it out for several weeks, and most likely, no junkyard would do that.

Ignitions are about $7.50 or so, so that's the only way I can get this done. This van is my daily driver, so it'll probably be a while before I can even start on this.

The ignition SWITCH is relatively inexpensive; the lock cylinder is NOT. Not to mention the fact that you have to do major surgery on the steering column. Swapping the steering column is the least painful method available, provided that the ignition cylinder still has its key.

How do you know if the JY won't work out a deal with you? Have you asked them? Propose this: I'll pay $xx.xx right now and you can hold it until I pay $xx.xx more. Anyone can strike a deal; you just have to ask them.

I haven't actually been there yet. I don't really go by there much, but I'm out of school tomorrow, so I might just drop by and check the price.

I think it would be a lot easier, cheaper and more secure to wire a hidden kill switch in the van somewhere, and not obvious. flip the killswitch, lock the doors, and go.
Your into electronics, how easy and cheap is that eh?
Go ahead, try to start it, Punk! it ain't goin anywhere !

doyoulikeithere wrote:I think it would be a lot easier, cheaper and more secure to wire a hidden kill switch in the van somewhere, and not obvious. flip the killswitch, lock the doors, and go.

Great Idea.

Jim

Brilliant! I have some heavy gauge wire under my seat right now, so I think I'll do that. Should be back in about an hour with some pics if I can find a good wiring diagram.

Heavy gauge wire, where are you thinking of adding it? My suggestion would be the power to the fuel pump. No pump, no go. Might start & run for a few seconds, but die afterwards. More confusing than no power at all to the vehicle. They'll just think it's some mechanical problem/POS vehicle and leave. I did it on my Sebring convertible, and will be doing it to my Astro.

Either use a relay or a switch that can handle the load.

-Andrew

the fuel pump, thats a good idea. I was thinking more of interrupting the starter circuit, but that only work on Auto Trans Vehicles (99% of astro's)

i like starter circuit myself then they won't kill the battery trying to start it. good for manuals too i think most thieves won't be bother to push start the car, too conspicuous

Cutting off the fuel pump sounds pretty good. I went and looked at the fuse box and found one wire plugged into a spot that said "IGN" on it. I assume that's the fuel pump? I don't have a manual, so while I think that's it, I'm not sure. Is it?