Thread: replacement Ignition barrels

Hey Pedro, we had ours done for $175 labour and $70 to refurb the ignition barrel.

Baz.

hmm,, but i bet your little red ring works,,,





must be just a bulb not put back in???

Sorry, I should have been clearer - use the 'just taaaap it in' method to get you out of trouble, and to fix it properly as mentioned asap.
I imagine it will definitely let you down somewhere in the worst possible place!
Yeah, and they buggered up my red light too! Mechanic next door just put a new globe in it and its ok now

I have experienced this problem twice now. The first time the barrel was refurbished and worked okay for some time. However last night on the side of the road with car and trailer fully loaded (moving house) the barrel crapped itself. Rang around for a locksmith and found one that was happy to meet me although 1 hour later. I decided that I would get on with the job and with a phillips head screw driver and a spanner tapped the screws that hold the key assembly onto the steering column off. Then I took the barrel out, tapped this wiggled this yelled abuse at this. The locksmith came by and all he did was unscrew the black plastic component with 5 wires soldered on the end of the lock assembly. This is the switch and with the existing keys placed in the slot the car started. Very handy to know if you are stuck. Of course you can't put the key assembly back on due to steering lock mechanism, but it will get you home. I'm happy with this easy start mechnism so much that I might just rig up the switch under the dash and be done with it. I can still immobilise the car and lock the doors so security is still there. The only thing I don't have is the steering wheel lock- but I figure that I don't need this! Hope it helps someone stranded on night on the lonely back roads.

Originally Posted by Sunova

I have experienced this problem twice now. The first time the barrel was refurbished and worked okay for some time. However last night on the side of the road with car and trailer fully loaded (moving house) the barrel crapped itself. Rang around for a locksmith and found one that was happy to meet me although 1 hour later. I decided that I would get on with the job and with a phillips head screw driver and a spanner tapped the screws that hold the key assembly onto the steering column off. Then I took the barrel out, tapped this wiggled this yelled abuse at this. The locksmith came by and all he did was unscrew the black plastic component with 5 wires soldered on the end of the lock assembly. This is the switch and with the existing keys placed in the slot the car started. Very handy to know if you are stuck. Of course you can't put the key assembly back on due to steering lock mechanism, but it will get you home. I'm happy with this easy start mechnism so much that I might just rig up the switch under the dash and be done with it. I can still immobilise the car and lock the doors so security is still there. The only thing I don't have is the steering wheel lock- but I figure that I don't need this! Hope it helps someone stranded on night on the lonely back roads.

This is of interest to me also. The steering wheel locking up is often an annoyance to me rather than a good anti theft feature...

So, in short, you're saying that the car can be started without a key, just from activating the switch at the back of the ignition barrel?

I'd like some more info on this!

Basically there's two components. The metal barrel which houses the key lock assy and the steering lock. This clamps around the column. On the end of this is the electrical switch (plugged into the wiring harness). Unscrew this and in the center you'll see a "keyed" section that fits into a piece sticking out from the end of the metal barrel which will also turn with a screwdriver.

I first found this when I lost my keys at Bondi, went to the $2 shop and got a hammer and chisel and broke into the car through the tailgate with a paddlepop stick, then spent an hour chiseling off the barrel on the street in front of the beach with not a questioning look in sight.

Hahaha! Everyone must have thought that nobody in their right mind would steal a Disco like that.

OK, so if the switch on the wiring harness is unscrewed from the barrel, is the key still required from keeping the steering wheel from locking, or do you have to remove the barrel completely?

Hi Sully- the black plastic switch is held onto the ignition component by two very small screws. Undo these and you will see a little groove in the middle- just as club swinger said. With a punch set or a phillips head screw driver you can undo the ignition component to remove the steering lock. I am thinking of just grinding down the steering lock latch and putting the ignition system back as normal. To the unsuspecting the key system would look normal......however maybe disguised as a spot light switch will be the real ignition switch.....my evil plan is coming together perfectly hahahahahaha!!