I'm a noob and I did mine in about 3 hours but could be faster depending on your experience. It's easy but time consuming. Jus make sure you clean the portion of the column where u make your mark to ensure proper alignment. Also, straighten the wheels before you start.
I changed the ignition switch and the lock cylinder but I have two problems. 1.)There was a pin and spring behind the lock cylinder that shot out and I lost it. 2.) The column appears to be to short to hook back up to the universal at the floor.:banghead: Can someone help me out?
Can I purchase the pin and spring or do I have to purchase the whole assy?
Once I get the pin and spring, which way does it go in?
Can the column assy be extended out? (I may have push it in trying to separate the assy from the column.
I've never replaced the lock tumbler, you might be on your own on that one. Are you sure that they pin and spring were not part of the failed lock cylinder? Forgive my ignorance there, but I've never had a tumbler in a mk3 fail on me.
As far as getting the column back in, you just need to wiggle it a little and/or lift it over the little ledge, and it will fall down. Had that happen to me. It definitely didn't shrink.
Ok after talking to the dealer, I could not buy the pin that popped out and I had to purchase a new lock cylinder housing $30 bucks online. When changing the cylinder the pin pops out some time and if it does, you have to buy a new housing. BTW the new housing from Merle has a design where the pin can't pop out.
The spine that hooks up to the universal joint had to be pulled out 1 1/2 inches (adjustable and slides with a little force). I put vice grips on there and hit it with a mallet a few time until I got the length right. (put the vise grips on the shaft not the spine).
changed the switch, lock cylinder, and the housing
Note: a special puller is needed to remove the housing (got mine at Harbor Frieght $42).
After all that work non of the new parts fixed my problem. My car still won't start. Got all the lights but, will not turn over. :screwy:
Ok I jumped the starter and the car started right up and ran fine. I placed a jumper on the alarm module connector (battery wires) and still won't start. :screwy: What is next?
Clutch switch?
Unless I am reading it wrong, it sounds like you didn't jump the alarm module correctly. You need to disconnect and jump the harness on the inside of the car by the headlight switch, not wires on the battery. Look at the bottom of this: http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/campingart/jettatech/nocrankdiag/index.htm
Unless it is the alarm, if you are able to start it by jumping the starter, that usually points to the ignition switch. Perhaps the one you replaced with is faulty. You could always wire a push button.
I had to take the car to the dealer here in Altanta. Every thing I did was correct, but who would have thought the switch I replaced was bad. That bad switch costed me $240.
Lesson learned if you do the diagnostic and still don't get any power the replacement switch or other part may be bad too.
Also, the column did not shrink I had to put some vice grips on it and pull it out some. If you pull it out it make connecting it back up a lot easier too.
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