Ignition switch actuator pin repair

[dartjeep]

Ignition switch actuator pin repair-

Here's mine on the left beside one that is not torn up and trashed. You can see the white metal housing is broken. The rest is inside the ignition switch itself and I have to fish it out. Also, one of the plastic tabs is bent and the internals are all out of place (can't see that in the picture).
My Jeep is an 02, the new to me pin assembly came from a 97. (thanks to my neighbor who is parting his Jeep out! also thanks to Scott for offering to let me tear into a spare column he has.)


You need a phillips screwdriver to get the column shrouds off, then tamper-proof torx T10 and a regular T20 to do the rest. Available at PA for under 10$ for a set for the tamper-proof torx bits.

instructions here, follow the steps in the exact order they do it, including assembly-



you may as well get a spare now. it will happen eventually. Thanks Paul Hawkes for posting the link to the video in another thread.

[eastcoastcam]

If needing to buy one...available at Napa and PartsSource for around $70.

Dorman part number: 924-704

[dartjeep]

Oct 24, 2013 18:49:07 GMT -4 eastcoastcam said:

Darren, if you remove the actuator and reinstall the ignition switch, then put your lock cylinder back in place for your key, you can start and turn off your Jeep with a screwdriver directly into the ignition switch. I did that for 3 weeks until I finally got around to installing the new actuator.

In mine, it never felt any different turning the key after the pin broke...

I can see how it would work that way but you would need tamper proof torx bits to take it apart. Not something I would think to carry with me. haha. I will now.
Mine broke on my work route today, luckily just up the street from my folks' house in Dartmouth. No tools with me (I unpacked them to bring my dog with me)... had to run for a screw driver and hope the ignition being on didn't kill the battery while I was gone.
I was driving the Jeep because a brake line failed on my beater car yesterday. Excellent luck eh? It was a learning experience.

I hope this helps someone else so they know what to look for. Thanks for posting the price and part number of the new part.

[eastcoastcam]

If you have a fine nail punch, you can break off the pin to use a regular torx in the event you can't find a tamper-proof bit too.

...but again, not something normally carried in the Jeep, for most people

[TomWood]

I had to do this in the Liberty, pain but for me I got the part online.

[jptj]

I just did this to ours this week...must be an epidemic. I flattened the tamper-proof pins with a small punch and had no problem getting the screws out with regular Torx. I got the replacement part from Peck's (Dorman replacement) but had to switch the white plastic/nylon housings around to make it work...like new now though!

[Grizzly]

What kind of issues did you have to know to replace the ignition switch actuator Darren? I'm just wondering because I've been having isses with my wipers, turn signals and radio not work when I start the Jeep and I've read it may be because of a bad actuator. I can still get it to work sometimes but I have to wiggle the key a few times for it to work.