how to drill out ignition switch screw on gt - Page 2

**papajam** · #16 (**permalink**) 04-30-2008, 10:12 AM

I think it's a 6mm x 1.0mm. Not sure on the length though.

ckeen74 · #17 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 11:38 AM

Correct on the size - I'm now forgetting what length I bought, but the original screw was slightly less than an inch long. Ignition now comes on reliably, but after an epic battle.

I tried the punch method, but the screw was not willing to turn. I'm embarrassed to admit that I may have been turning it the wrong way since I was upside down, on my back. Argh. Tried the extractor bit next, but couldn't get at the screw in a dead-on fashion, so that was unsuccessful. Plus the extractor just stripped out the hole, and the drill started to smoke. So I broke down and used the hacksaw, and whaddaya know, the darn thing came right out with a screwdriver.

Thanks for all the help!

ckeen74 · #18 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 08:54 PM

Just a couple of pics of the battlefield. Not the most fun I've had, but I got 'er done.

aschmidt · #19 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 12:51 PM

I really feel for you! I had to do the same thing 2 years ago. I ended up using a drill and drilling small holes around the head and taking some needle nose pliers and turning the bolt. It is a standard metric bolt. I just went to the local hardware store and got a match. The good news is that you get a slot, phillips, or robertson head so the next time you do this (God Forbid!) it will be easy.

ckeen74 · #20 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 01:22 PM

Thanks for the sympathy - I do actually have one question about this. Now that I've been driving the car, I've noticed the steering wheel lock doesn't work. Car starts fine and all, so I'm not quite sure what I did wrong. I know if I screwed the bolt down tight, the key wouldn't turn - is that a clue to anything?

Thanks!

aschmidt · #21 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 10:11 AM

Hmmm... not sure what to make of this. I was worried about that too, but the steering did lock when I tried it. I remember reading in a repair manual (Haynes, I think) that you had to make sure your wheels were straight when putting your steering wheel back on. I didn't take my steering wheel off, I just crawled underneath and did this. It left me with a sore neck and back for over a week!

I wish I could be more help.

I have a question: Did you replace the entire ignition switch or repair it? The ignition switches are notoriously bad in the Alfetta's . Mine is still unreliable: It wants to cut out the 'on' lead which of course will kill the fuel pump. I'm looking to build a new circuit that used a relay to drive the main line.

Ahhh...what fun.

ckeen74 · #22 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 10:20 AM

Hmm, I didn't take the wheel off either, just undid the bolts holding the column to the dash. It's not really a big deal since I'm not too worried about theft, but it's nice to have everything working correctly. I think the switch is off an earlier Alfetta, so maybe they just didn't have a lock.

I just pulled out the old switch and put in a used one from APE. So far, so good... and the fuel pump fires up every time. Not quite sure what was wrong with the old one, but I can say that before it was almost completely broken (95% of the time, there was no power unless you actually cranked the starter), the fuel pump would frequently refuse to light up unless you hit it with a stick. Now the fuel pump works every time.