Previous post on this problem of not being able to move key far enough to remove it and lock the steering:
http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=1252071

Today I got the car into the workspace and removed the instrument cluster to have a look at the ignition switch/steering lock area.

Saw this cable driven insert on the side of the switch/lock assembly which was easily released and removed.



After removing it the key would move to the desired "off" position. The steering would lock and the key could be removed. The shift lock still functioned in that I had to step on the brake to shift the selector out of park.

So what is the device that I disconnected? How does it work? Any reason I can't just leave it disconnected and button things up? I am sure it cannot be that easy so please tell me what I am missing. Thanks.

Randy

Randy,


See if you can now move the shifter out of park without the key in the cylinder and foot not on the brake. If you can this cable is to another shifter lock at the shifter assembly so the shifter cannot be moved when the car is parked and the key is not in the ignition cylinder. you should be able to depress the white part of that cable and hear some thing going on down at the shifter assembly. Yes you can leave it disconnected but you will be able to move the shifter when the car is parked so be careful. This is a seperate lock from the one that has you apply the foot brake to move the shift lever when the car is running.



If this is not it then i`m stumped


Mark Pelurie,Sr


`83 240 and a`91 240

Thank you for responding.

The shifter remains locked in Park unless I turn the ignition ON and step on the brake at which point I am able to shift out of Park.

When I move the white plastic end I can hear movement in the shifter area, but it does not move when I shift the selector through the various positions. I am assuming the cable is out of adjustment or just broken.

It seems odd that everything appears to work as it should with it disconnected; it has to have some purpose.

Randy

Hmmmn, Ok my guess now it that it is still some kind of lock for the shifter assembly maybe to tell the ignition cylinder that the car is in park so that you can turn the ignition cylinder ALL the way to lock so that the key can be removed, since in your previous post you stated that once you removed the cable from the lock assembly you could now remove the key. I`m used to dealing with General Motors cars and their setup but it should be close





Mark Pelurie,Sr


`83 240 and a `91 240

I thought about that as well on a drive home tonight.

I have a 92 944T and when I got home I went to that car to check out how that ignition works. The brake/shift lock seems to be the same. I turned on the ignition, stepped on the brake and put the car in Drive. I left it in Drive and turned off the ignition and was able to turn it all the way off and remove the key.

It would have made sense if the cable was to prevent removing the key without the car being in Park but that is not the case.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Randy