My key switch will turn freely through out its normal range of travel without any indents felt and will not turn the vehicle on or activate the starter. The key will come out when turned back to "off/lock" and the steering wheel will lock. The steering wheel unlocks when the key is turned to any other position, as is normal.

Is this a keyed switch issue or is it an activator rod issue.?? I did feel a small bit of a "something broke" sensation on the key when I turned it, then this occurred.

This is not a neutral safety switch issue, I am sure of that. The key switch will just rotated freely, clockwise or counter clockwise, until it reaches its normal range of travel.

 

Your '87 has a long rod that passes through the column to the ignition switch mounted at the base of the column. Perhaps the end of the rod slipped out or the switch is bad/loose.

 

is this accessable with out tools? Im broke down and getting ready to tow it

 

Ah, not really. You have to get under the dash. You might be able to see it (even reach it) but there's not much you can do with no tools other than see if there's anything obvious.

 

It could be the lock cylinder or the actuator rack which is behind the steering wheel.

 

Towed the Jeep home. I tore into it a bit, and was able to find the actuator rod, was able to move it and turn the Jeep on and get my windows rolled up! Something is disconnected between the keyed switch and the rod. i guess i will pull the steering wheel and start exploring.

 

So when you turn the key, the rod doesn't move down by the switch? Do you have tilt steering?

 

Nope. But I was able to grab the rod and move it to activate all of the circuits that the switch controls, including starting the jeep. All of this no matter if the key is in its slot, turned or not turned, indicating to me that the rod is no longer mechanically connected to the key/tumbler unit. The key does still lock and unlock the steering wheel.

So, what ever mechanism causes the rod to move when the key is rotated is no longer functioning. It neither moves the rod nor prevents it from being moved, so essentially, the jeep could be started with the steering wheel still locked, by manually moving the rod to "start" position.

Yes it is a tilt column.

 

Well, you do need a puller and a spring compression tool to get the steering wheel off. Most local autoparts stores will have a loaner program so you don't have to buy them (assuming you don't have them already).

Plenty of YT vids on how to change the lock cylinder you could start there. I don't think the lock is bad since you can still lock/unlock the steering wheel, but you can look deep enough inside to see if you can spot the problem.

When you get it apart check these parts.

The key cylinder has a slot in the end that engages this "keyed" shaft. The shafts other end goes into this gear.




The gear rides a rack so when you turn the key, the gear slides the rack, the rack then pushes/pulls the rod going to the ignition switch.



You can see who they all go together. The rod sticking out the right is the rod that locks the wheel with the key out.




Good luck!!

 

Thanks! Those are the exact photos I needed. Are these parts still available, do you know?

 

Apparently the "rack package" is available aftermarket (Crown Auto). Jeep part number is 83510055.


The "rack" 2nd pic may require removing the housing cover.

Never got that deep into mine. My tilt was very wobbly and had to tighten the screws that hold the two sections together,