Key buzzer switch review & follow up
I while back I posted a question about the key buzzer switch buried deep in my 1972 with tilt/tele steering column. As a side note, I was getting a constant key buzzer anytime the door was opened with or without the key. Using a very excellent diagnostic document provided by Jim Shea, courtesy of the Saginaw Steering Division, I initially determined that the key buzzer switch was malfunctioning. Then, when I took my car out of storage not long ago, I had no buzzer so back to diagnosing and found that ignition lock cylinder was a bit sloppy and needed to be replaced.
I thought I would add a review of the repro switch that I received from Ecklers. I chose them simply because they were the least expensive and I figured that there was probably only 1 company making these but sold by many. Anyhow, you can see from the two photos that they are almost identical with the new one on the right. The only difference that I can see is the bend on the top copper arm of the original unit. It is ever so slightly different as you can see if you zoom in on the second photo. In addition, my original unit does not have the clear plastic completely covering the tips of copper contacts as they extend into the case. Again, that is visible in the photo. Dimensionally and, apparently functionally, they are identical. Fwiw, once I put the new switch in, I was getting an intermittent buzzer that was diagnosed as a lock cylinder that loose in the steering column and the small white tab that activates the buzzer switch was sticking. Based on information from this community, I cleaned the lock cylinder with non-chlorinated brake cleaner and let it dry. I then obtained dry graphite lock lubricant or powder and sprayed that liberally into the cylinder. Now the white tab retracts normally and the key buzzer only works when it is supposed to. Once in every 15 +/- key insertions the key buzzer will not come on but jiggling the lock cylinder will activate the buzzer. So, I will try and source an NOS lock cylinder and probably replace it later in the year.
I hope that this helps some of you in the event that you need to dig into the steering column. The tilt/tele key buzzer switch is different that the non-tilt unit so this only applies to the former. Btw, I will furnish a copy of the Saginaw key buzzer diagnosis if you will contact me off line.
Gary Schisler
grumpa72@gmail.com