Ignition barrel removal/repair help WA Festiva?

[FlavouredMilk]

Hey guys, I need help with the ignition barrel in my '93 Festiva.

Now, I know there's some information that shouldn't be shared publically due to vehicle theft reasons, but hear me out.

The other night a couple of low lifes tried to jack my car, they failed due to an after market push button start I have installed, but they fubarred my ignition barrel trying. So now, after replacing the battery they knocked off and making the door locks 'work' the final step in getting my little Stiva back to life is fixing or replacing the ignition barrel, but obviously, I cannot move the car to get it anywhere to help, namely my work place (I'm a first year apprentice mechanic) so if I could get the ignition barrel out at home, I won't need to ship the whole bloody car in on a tow truck.

So that's what I'm looking for guys, if anyone could help. I need to remove the ignition barrel at my house (I can bring tools home) so I can take it to work to fix it or to replace it or.. Well thay's a later issue... Or if alternatively, anyone knows how to start a Festiva without a key, and could tell me on the sly, that'd be, you know, good. Haha.

Any help is helpful, cheers.

[drddan]

First ...Welcome to the site!

If I remember correctly, the WA Festiva, in the land down under, is the same as the US version, correct?

If so, the steering column covers can be taken off, and I believe you should be able to access the key switch. Is this what you are calling the Ignition Barrel?
There are screws on the bottom of the column to remove the covers.

[FlavouredMilk]

Aye, the covers are't too much of an issue. One of the screws is being touchy, but if all else fails, I'll give it a good reefing on. Aesthetical values are quite low at this point. It's more so the removal of the barrel from the column.

[drddan]

I don't remember how the switch/barrel is mounted, but i'm pretty sure it is removable. Good luck!

[Movin]

See the column bolt? drop the column down. The switch can be hot wired easy to start the car but do you see that round disk between the barrel and the electric part? It is the steering lock. The 2 bolts that hold the assembly to the column are break away bolts. You may like two allen drive bolts to replace them. Break away will need a small punch and pick , air chisel is quicker but you are at home, pick away at the bolts until they back out. use care. Lefty drill may be useful.

[Pu241]

The two small threaded faseners in the above pic can be backed off using a small set of vise grips or similar tool.
Or a slot an be cut into them via a hacksaw blade or dremel and then a slot screw driver can be used.
I have done this many times, it takes some patience, but is not too hard to do.

[TominMO]

The 2 bolts that hold the assembly to the column are break away bolts. You may like two allen drive bolts to replace them. Break away will need a small punch and pick , air chisel is quicker but you are at home, pick away at the bolts until they back out. use care. Lefty drill may be useful.

Another easy way to get those two bolts out is to cut a slot in one of them, so you can use a flat-blade screwdriver to remove it. I use a Dremel with a diamond wheel. Once you get one out, you can wiggle the bracket a bit to loosen the other bolt. That one can then be removed with a needle-nose pliers, usually.

[drddan]

Ha Ha you just repeated John!

[Flyin4stroke]

Great minds think alike.

[TominMO]

Ha Ha you just repeated John! :icon_smile:

I didn't notice that John had posted this just before me! I came back to this thread to post, having read it before. In fact John taught me how to do this!

Great minds think alike.

And so do we.

[Movin]

I get the thin 3" for the 90 deg die grinder for that. He is not at the shop though . Its great to have these and other options in case one way does not work out. OP mentioned stealing one because of the info we might bring up but that kind of info was not brought up here. That is not a problem around here and we leave the keys in the car and the door unlocked. visitors from California go nuts but so do we when they get out their little red steering wheel bar!

[FlavouredMilk]

Alright, work's over the day. Now to go home and make way on Attempt #1. I got stuck yesterday because one of the little screws in the plastic covers decided it wanted to spin freely and I didn't overly feel like snapping it all. But I'll find out soon enough if I can avoid that or not. After that I'll make an attempt on the serious business. That column bolt, anyone know it's size? After that I'll try and chisel out those break aways. I just need to get it to a state where it'll come out and I can take it to work.

Oh, also, to prevent assisting the low lifes, once the barrel's out, is that going to make it easier to hot wire for someone who has already broken in and possibly still has my battery? And if yes, what extra can I do to prevent them making off with my ride whilst it isn't sporting an ignition barrel?

[FlavouredMilk]

Forgive me for the double post, but my phone is, well, quite lame and is being difficult.

So, here we go. I got home, tore at the plastic until I snapped the screw that was stuck, it shouldn't look horrible once it's back together. Dropped off the two 12mm steering column bolts and lowered the column. I then used a chisel and hammer to tap the two break away bolts around until they were loose enough to use my fingers. Dropped the barrel and bracket from the column and disconnected all the wiring from within the dash, so no wires for the theives to play with, including the extra wiring for my push button start, which just clipped into the dash.

So, now I have that out, I can work on getting a new one or whatever and then I'll be able to fit it and an alarm to my little Stiva and all will be right with the world.

Cheers for all the advice!

[drddan]

That's why we're here ...

[Pu241]

Oh, also, to prevent assisting the low lifes, once the barrel's out, is that going to make it easier to hot wire for someone who has already broken in and possibly still has my battery? And if yes, what extra can I do to prevent them making off with my ride whilst it isn't sporting an ignition barrel?

I'd just pull the middle fuse in the engine bay pannel.
On the US models it was located behind the battery on the US drivers side.
Or you could pull the rotor or if your model has it, engage the fuel cut off switch.
Any one of which has kept many a festiva off the road.