Not turning off?

[cammer34]

So take a trip to the autoparts store for my rear main and one piece oil pan gasket. Cruise to my buddies house, go to turn the ol' heep off and...drum roll please...it doesn't turn off! VICTORY! :yelclap: NOT. :gonnablow The key will not turn to the off position. dont worry, I got the key out.
I got her shut down thanks to my battery disco, but how do I go about fixing this?
Thanks everyone

Cameron

 

[YELLAHEEP]

First - you gotta remember - we don't know your rig. You need to give us at a minimum the year of it so we know what components we're dealing with....... :twak:

Haven't heard of this problem with the '95+ XJ's so I'll assume you have an earlier XJ with the GM style column.

Sounds like you have issues with either the ignition switch itself (located on the steering column down and above the brake pedal. Or your tilt column is getting a bit loose and the linkage at the ignition lock cylinder that runs along the column around the tilt mechanism is binding up. I've had this happen to me as well.

Set us straight on what year rig you have and we'll get some help to ya. :thumbup:

 

[cammer34]

sorry yella, excuse my generalization...I was a bit startled when it happened...
your assumption is correct, the jeeps a 90, with the government motors column. No tilt, so possibly the switch, however, the jeep will still turn over, so possibly something is amiss in the ignition cylinder?

 

[YELLAHEEP]

There's a couple things inside the column that can go bad keeping that lock cylinder from returning to lock.

I've seen old ignition switches go bad and something breaks inside keeping the slide in it from moving it's full distance, I've seen the metal rod that goes into the switch become dislocated and positioned in the switch somewhere it shouldn't be.

The fact that it didn't stop running when you turned the lock cylinder back just one notch tells me something is up with the ignition switch.

I'd start there.

 

[cammer34]

excellent. thanks you very much sir.