HELP! GM lock cylinder removal

NovaMan · 10-01-2008, 11:19 PM

I'm trying to get the lock cylinder out of my steering column, and I am to the point where I have knocked the casting flash out of that slot, but I can't find whatever latch release thing my Haynes manual says I'm supposed to push down. I let my dad look at it for a while, and now the key won't turn. HELP!

Michael Beard · 10-02-2008, 12:13 AM

Yeah, they're crap. My fiance has an '05 Cobalt, did the same thing. It was completely stuck. You could get the key in and out of the cylinder, but it wouldn't turn, and the gearshift was stuck in Park. Eventually, I pulled the center console apart, and was able to get the catch lever off the shifter momemtarilly to get it in neutral so I could at least move it.

It's been more than a year since I had to do the operation on the thing, but if I recall, the lever inside the steering column is white, and was a PITA to get to, but you can get to it with a screwdriver I think. The thing has some kind of "time out" on it... ever since I got it past the step you're trying now, it's been "fine", except the key has a hard time going in or coming out. Sometimes you can't get the key out until you wait several seconds for the time-out, and if it's quiet, you can actually hear a 'click', and bingo, the key is free.

Another scary thing is that now you can start the car with just about any key! (luckily the door locks are still right!)

Sorry it's been too long to recall exactly what I did to be of much help... from what I understand, it's a common problem on a lot of late model GM's, not just the Cobalt.

Good luck,

NovaMan · 10-02-2008, 12:30 AM

Actually, the steering column in question is out of my 1970 Nova, so it's probably a little easier to work on. I have the whole thing out of the car and disassembled. Somehow I managed to fix it so the key turns now, but I have no idea what was wrong or what I did to fix it. I'd still like to get the lock cylinder out so I can re-key it.

bobby · 10-02-2008, 07:10 AM

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/56459/index.html
Hope this helps. It's on a Chevelle, but should be the same for your Nova. You can buy the lock cylinders at your local auto parts store.

NovaMan · 10-03-2008, 06:28 PM

That's exactly what my Haynes manual said to do, but it didn't work for me. I took it to my favorite local lock shop, and they knew how to do it. You have to drill a small hole a little to the right of the slot, like so:

Sorry for the crappy photo quality, but it's the best I could do. You have to drill that hole as close as possible to the post that is the boss for that screw. The release tab is right below there.

Bud Lefevre · 10-03-2008, 08:20 PM

replace the key cyl. , sounds like it dropped a tumbler.

NovaMan · 10-04-2008, 06:26 AM

I'm not sure, but I think the key not turning may have had something to do with the buzzer switch. I got it to work again, but I had the lock shop replace it with a new cylinder since I wanted it to have a different key.

bobby · 10-06-2008, 09:58 AM

I had the buzzer switch on my exwifes S10 blazer do that. Just took it out. Had to jump start the truck a few times b/c she forgot to turn the lights off, LOL.

10-01-2008, 11:19 PM	#1
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	HELP! GM lock cylinder removal I'm trying to get the lock cylinder out of my steering column, and I am to the point where I have knocked the casting flash out of that slot, but I can't find whatever latch release thing my Haynes manual says I'm supposed to push down. I let my dad look at it for a while, and now the key won't turn. HELP! __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-02-2008, 12:13 AM	#2
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: HELP! GM lock cylinder removal Yeah, they're crap. My fiance has an '05 Cobalt, did the same thing. It was completely stuck. You could get the key in and out of the cylinder, but it wouldn't turn, and the gearshift was stuck in Park. Eventually, I pulled the center console apart, and was able to get the catch lever off the shifter momemtarilly to get it in neutral so I could at least move it. It's been more than a year since I had to do the operation on the thing, but if I recall, the lever inside the steering column is white, and was a PITA to get to, but you can get to it with a screwdriver I think. The thing has some kind of "time out" on it... ever since I got it past the step you're trying now, it's been "fine", except the key has a hard time going in or coming out. Sometimes you can't get the key out until you wait several seconds for the time-out, and if it's quiet, you can actually hear a 'click', and bingo, the key is free. Another scary thing is that now you can start the car with just about any key! (luckily the door locks are still right!) Sorry it's been too long to recall exactly what I did to be of much help... from what I understand, it's a common problem on a lot of late model GM's, not just the Cobalt. Good luck, __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

10-02-2008, 12:30 AM	#3
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP! GM lock cylinder removal Actually, the steering column in question is out of my 1970 Nova, so it's probably a little easier to work on. I have the whole thing out of the car and disassembled. Somehow I managed to fix it so the key turns now, but I have no idea what was wrong or what I did to fix it. I'd still like to get the lock cylinder out so I can re-key it. __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-02-2008, 07:10 AM	#4
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP! GM lock cylinder removal http://www.carcraft.com/howto/56459/index.html Hope this helps. It's on a Chevelle, but should be the same for your Nova. You can buy the lock cylinders at your local auto parts store.

10-03-2008, 06:28 PM	#5
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP! GM lock cylinder removal That's exactly what my Haynes manual said to do, but it didn't work for me. I took it to my favorite local lock shop, and they knew how to do it. You have to drill a small hole a little to the right of the slot, like so: Sorry for the crappy photo quality, but it's the best I could do. You have to drill that hole as close as possible to the post that is the boss for that screw. The release tab is right below there. __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-03-2008, 08:20 PM	#6
Bud Lefevre Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 250 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP! GM lock cylinder removal replace the key cyl. , sounds like it dropped a tumbler. __________________ Bud Lefevre 3075 STK IHRA World Record Holder

10-04-2008, 06:26 AM	#7
NovaMan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 117 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP! GM lock cylinder removal I'm not sure, but I think the key not turning may have had something to do with the buzzer switch. I got it to work again, but I had the lock shop replace it with a new cylinder since I wanted it to have a different key. __________________ ~Pete 1970 Nova

10-06-2008, 09:58 AM	#8
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: HELP! GM lock cylinder removal I had the buzzer switch on my exwifes S10 blazer do that. Just took it out. Had to jump start the truck a few times b/c she forgot to turn the lights off, LOL.