edtbjon

The car is a 1995 Ls400 2'nd gen. In short, it takes some 10 minutes or so to see the switch, but replacing it is another story. Do I need to remove the full instrument panel and/or cluster or is there a trick to get to the two Philips screws on the back of the ignition key assembly?


Background story: I have had some problems with the Ignition Key Switch, rendering me a full stop on the highway, having to ride a flatbed towtruck home...
Anyhow, in another thread I described the full story, which started some 16 months ago with the car having its own mind on wether to start or not... I was about to replace the switch back then, but all of a sudden the car "decided" to start working properly again.

The problem is that when I turn the key to the ON position, the dials etc on the instument panel doesn't light up (as a "side effect" of the car having no ignition, this phenomena is shown in the short video which is linked a couple of posts below). This problem was intermittent, but now it's permanent, which indicates a faulty ingnition key switch.
I ripped down the lower parts of the panel(s) under the steering wheel so that I could see the switch, which is some 6" behind the keyhole and the various mechanical parts of the steering wheel lock etc. I got to the terminal connector and took the connector out and connectec it to a spare switch. Then the ignition turned on as expected. (Really the only things that nags me is the fact that the original switch decided to work when I put the terminal contact back, but I guess Murphy is behind my back laughing at me...)

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

of course WE dont know what YOU are driving, but
try this :

edtbjon

Oops, sorry, it's an LS400 from 1995... Thank you for the video, but it's not a key problem. I posted a video in the other thread, which shows the actual problem, except that the rev- and speedometer now doesn't light up at all (i.e. no ignition) instead of being hesitant.
The video is here now too:
https://redirect.viglink.com/?format...lay%20problems

edtbjon

Just a quick progress report. The solution is to drop the steering column, which is held in place by two 17mm nuts on either side of the steering column. The steering wheel and column will drop to the floor and replacing the switch is easy. I got some pictures in another thread.