Cordoba1
Well-Known Member
Happy Sunday! I just completed a 600 mile road trip in Darlene the Cordoba. It’s an ’81 for those of you who don’t know. She ran great, but I did run into a problem. I’m looking for some insight into what to tear into to fix the issue.
Before my road trip, I spent an evening detailing it up. I like to listen to tunes, but I was having trouble turning the key backwards to get the electrical system into accessory mode. I had to exert a lot of force. On my road trip, at each stop, I noticed an increasing amount of slop in the ignition key. Mostly in the “run” position, I could rotate the key in either direction about eighty degrees in either direction without encountering any resistance. I began to worry that something was about to break, or I wouldn’t have enough twist to engage the starter circuit.
Sure enough, on my next gas stop, I twisted the key, no starter. The mechanism moved enough to get the car’s ignition system on; so for the next two days, I stated the car by sending voltage from the battery terminal to the starter relay terminal on the relay on the firewall. I’m glad I know enough about these cars (and I had a little piece of wire with me) that it only took me about a minute to get it stated the first time.
I’ve already checked the easy part: The electrical switch located on top of the column down by the floor. It is mounted firmly, and the metal pushrod going into it is tight. When I rotate the key, I can move it back and forth a lot before there is any motion on the pushrod into the switch.
Something has come loose! I’m not familiar with the mechanical connection between the key and the switch.
Any ideas on what is the likely culprit?
Many thanks for any ideas you may have!
Before my road trip, I spent an evening detailing it up. I like to listen to tunes, but I was having trouble turning the key backwards to get the electrical system into accessory mode. I had to exert a lot of force. On my road trip, at each stop, I noticed an increasing amount of slop in the ignition key. Mostly in the “run” position, I could rotate the key in either direction about eighty degrees in either direction without encountering any resistance. I began to worry that something was about to break, or I wouldn’t have enough twist to engage the starter circuit.
Sure enough, on my next gas stop, I twisted the key, no starter. The mechanism moved enough to get the car’s ignition system on; so for the next two days, I stated the car by sending voltage from the battery terminal to the starter relay terminal on the relay on the firewall. I’m glad I know enough about these cars (and I had a little piece of wire with me) that it only took me about a minute to get it stated the first time.
I’ve already checked the easy part: The electrical switch located on top of the column down by the floor. It is mounted firmly, and the metal pushrod going into it is tight. When I rotate the key, I can move it back and forth a lot before there is any motion on the pushrod into the switch.
Something has come loose! I’m not familiar with the mechanical connection between the key and the switch.
Any ideas on what is the likely culprit?
Many thanks for any ideas you may have!
