ignition/tailgate

[yucatec]

Dear Panthers,
I'm in Wisconsin now, hoping to be back in Virginia Monday. Two problems - one inconsequential, the other worrisome. I'd appreciate your advice. (1) Despite my installation of a NOS tailgate actuator, twice I've had to roll down the ntailgate window and lift the inside tailgate latch to get the outside one to function. Since - push come to shove I can get the dogs out of the wayback in other ways that isn't a big deal.

(2) Bigger deal. Also, twice the igntion switch has refused to turn. Oddly it would tunr backwrad a notch. After much jiggling of the shift lever and steering wheel, I got it to work but I'd sure as hell hate to not be able to start the Cruiser somewhere in Michigan on the way home.

I'd appreciate a diagnosis and what I might do to avoid the problem on the road home.

Thanks,

Donald McCaig

[gadget73]

1) maybe one of the plastic bushings on a rod from the handle is worn out, and it doesn't quite pull the latch all the way? Not real familier with the tailgates but I had that happen to the door on my car.

2) might be the tumbler or the rod in the column going. The tumbler is cake to remove as long as the key will turn. Pull the plastic shrouds off the column right behind the wheel. Theres a little hole under where the chrome ring on tumbler sits. Its on the bottom, about 7 o'clock if you're looking at the key. stick a small screwdriver, piece of coathanger, paperclip, whatever you have handy that fits in there, and the tumbler will slide out. In a pinch you can run the car with a screwdriver, though it looks kind of shady. I'd suggest removing it from the column in case you get pulled over. Getting the rod out, not 100% sure on that but I think the ignition switch itself has to come out, not sure if the rod can be pulled from there or if the steering wheel needs to come off.