What is the procedure for changing the ignition switch in a 2000 Chevy S10 truck?

Answer 1

Remove the dash trim around the gauge cluster and radio. It helps to put the shifter in 1st to get it out. Remove the upper and lower steering column covers. Disconnect the air bag(unhook the battery first). You'll have to remove the steering wheel to gain access to one of the bolts that holds the tumbler housing to the column. I think there are 3 in total, they are torx heads. Remove those bolts and the housing will come off.

If I misunderstood the question and all you want to replace is the plastic switch that is turned by the tumbler when the key is turned. You can get to that by just removing the plastic around the column. Below the key you will see the big wiring harness.(disconnect the battery) This piece can be pulled out of the bottom of the tumbler housing with a screw driver. Once it's out you will see what the tumbler actually is turning when you turn the key.

Answer 2

The ignition switch is on the lower part of your steering column. Not very easy to get to but you can lower the steering column to get a better look at it. there should be 2 switches down there that have bars running to them. one is the headlight brights switch, you should be able to click the brights and see what switch you need to replace. there are 2 screws that hold the brights switch in place. you need to remove that switch first, then there are 2 more for the ignition switch. After that you just turn the switch on the bar to get it to remove. hope this helps, its not a hard job to do just hard to get to. Good luck :)

Answer 3

I just got done doing this a few days ago.

You will need the following tools:

Steering wheel puller Torx bits (get a set, you need 3 sizes) Inverted Torx ( a set is available at Schucks/Kragen/Checker Screwdriver A few zip ties Wire cutters

Start by disconnecting the yellow wire under the dash for the airbag. Now turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to access the underside of the steering wheel. You will have to insert a smaller size flat blade screw driver into the 4 holes on the back of the steering wheel and rotate them to release the airbag. Now remove the nut holding the steering wheel on and remove the steering wheel. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE AIRBAG MODULE!! Now remove the lower column cover with 2 Torx screws. You will now have access to 2 inverted Torx screws that hold the top column cover in place. Remove the hold-down ring that holds the cover to the shaft. Look on the top of the ignition cylinder housing and find the small hole. Insert a small Allen wrench into the hole and turn the key to "run" position and the ignition cylinder will come out, now the top cover will come off, giving access to the ignition switch. You will need the smallest inverted Torx bit for the 2 screws that hold the ignition switch in. You will have to cut a couple of zip ties to free the wiring. Now get a Torx bit and a 7mm socket and remove the lower dash panels to get access to the wiring harness. You will need the 7mm to unscrew a bolt that holds the connector together under the dash. Just follow the wiring to see what I mean. Once the connector is loose, you will see two plastic strips that run along side the connector. These are easy to remove and slide off, and are keyed so you cannot reinstall them wrong.

More Information:

Great answer/directions listed above. I would add that one can use a 3/16" section of brake line to get the two E3 or e4 external torx screws out (holds the ignition switch on) instead of buying the whole kit. Buy a 6" or 8" section of brake line, cut in half, take the cut end and "lightly tap" it on (with a small hammer) the torx head. The metal brake line is soft enough to form around the head. Take a pliers and spin off........they are not that tight nor hard to get off. Otherwise you need to buy the whole smaller external torx kit (2") and most places don't carry them.. as above I just did the job also and in fact used his answer.

Comment:

The above information saved me TONS of time.... I was getting frustrated trying to get the air bag off the wheel to do a column change out to a tilt wheel. The above worked perfectly for removing the airbag. However, the inverted torx bits can be removed with a good 6 point socket on a 1/4 inch drive ratchet as well. No need to buy a special tool or buy tubing to try to tap it over them. Worked on both the standard column in the truck to start with and the tilt wheel I put in to replace it.

Answer 4

The ignition swithch is on the steering column about 18 inches from the floor and is held by 2 screws.