I can't get the ignition switch to work. I basically have no power almost as if the battery is dead but it's not. It's something in the switch, either the key switch or something else. Every now and then I can get the idiot lights to come on but sometimes very faintly. No stereo or starter. The door buzzer wants to work but it's like it has a bad connection.

What do I do? How can I test to find the problem? I was thinking of wiring around the switch to see if I could get power and make things work so I would know it's the switch but I don't know how.

When it all started it just happened. I was at the car wash and washed it, started it up and pulled out of the bay to dry it. It never worked again. Had to pull it home with a chain.

By the way it's at 1969.

Headlights bright?
Get out the old volt meter or test light and see where you have 12 volts and where you do not have 12 volts.
Might just try cleaning and tightening the battery cables.
http://macc.chevelles.net/69diagram_color.jpg

What do you mean where I do and don't have 12 volts? Do I need to test each wire in the hardness coming out of the steering column? Which ones are supposed to be what?


No headlights or anything electrical. Cables are fine, had the battery tested and it's fine, full charge.

Dean ,Where are these diagrams on the site as I don't see an index ?
Thanks.

What do you mean where I do and don't have 12 volts? Do I need to test each wire in the hardness coming out of the steering column? Which ones are supposed to be what?

No headlights or anything electrical. Cables are fine, had the battery tested and it's fine, full charge.
Start at the terminal post on the core support behind the right side headlights, it is fed by a fusible link from the positive cable.
Next, the BAT terminal on the horn relay.
From there, power goes to the bulkhead connector then to the fuse block.

Dean ,Where are these diagrams on the site as I don't see an index ?
Thanks.
No index, I bought that 69 diagram and scanned it.
I think I might have a 65 or 66 diagram on that server also.

I'm being called away so I'll have to check back later. :(

All that stuff works, I have power at the fuse block.

I put a test light on the different wires on the ignition switch on top of the steering column. Only the red ones have power in the off position. All but one work in the on position but they are kinda dim compared to what it looked like on the red. The one not working is the purple wire with a strip. Is it supposed to be off? No power that is.

I'm starting to think it's just the key switch. Can those just quit working all of the sudden like that?

Ok I discovered something else. I pushed in on the key and the door buzzer started working right. I just pushed the key in all the way and then some. I noticed the whole switch thing moved into the column a small amount. Also, with the key in the on position I was able to pull the key completely out of the switch. I never noticed either one of these things before. I'm going to just get a new key switch and put that in and see what happens.

Well OK, it does sound like you might need a new ignition key lock assembly but the ignition has nothing to do with the headlights.

Purple wire only has power during starter cranking.

Jmax,I just read your ignition trouble and my 65 SS just started doing the same thing.Did replacing the key cylinder and / or the switch help? Thx Festus