Buzzing driving me crazy

[Joseph K.]

The warning that the key is in the ignition buzzes if the key is in or out when the door is open. Has any one experienced this and how do I repair this?

[Richard C.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

joseph, what year is the car?

[Kevin G.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Joe,
Without knowing the year? I would suggest a small amount of WD40 squirted on the key and working it in and out, and turning the ignition back and fourth. Might solve the problem, it worked on my 72.

Kevin

[Pat M.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Guys - the post shows 68-69. Joseph - sounds to me like the key buzzer switch's plastic housing has broken in the steering column and will need to be replaced. Same thing happened to my 70 before, and it's a relatively common experience.

[Michael D.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Wouldn't hurt to clean/R&R the door jamb switches.

[Jack H.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

The temporary fix is to look at the horn relay in the engine compartment. From the bottom side, you'll find one contact post that stands apart from the others (should be toward the front of the car). Pull the wire attached to that contact post and you'll open circuit the key minder buzzer.

The advice that the cause is most likely the switch in the steering column being broken (plastic case deteriorated) has a HIGH probablility of being the culprit. ESPECIALLY if you have a Tilt/Tele column...that version of the key minder warning switch is longer than what's used in a standard column and more prone to age/failure due to 'sun bake' stress.

[Joseph K.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Guys - the post shows 68-69. Joseph - sounds to me like the key buzzer switch's plastic housing has broken in the steering column and will need to be replaced. Same thing happened to my 70 before, and it's a relatively common experience.

Pat,

Thanks for the info. How did you repair the plastic part. Can it be repaired by pulling the steering wheel easily? Or will I have to get a lock smith to pull the lock? Any help would be appreciated. I have pulled steering wheels before but have messed up the turn signal arrangement also. Thanks

[Joseph K.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

The temporary fix is to look at the horn relay in the engine compartment. From the bottom side, you'll find one contact post that stands apart from the others (should be toward the front of the car). Pull the wire attached to that contact post and you'll open circuit the key minder buzzer.

The advice that the cause is most likely the switch in the steering column being broken (plastic case deteriorated) has a HIGH probablility of being the culprit. ESPECIALLY if you have a Tilt/Tele column...that version of the key minder warning switch is longer than what's used in a standard column and more prone to age/failure due to 'sun bake' stress.

Jack,

Thanks for the temp fix but eventually I want to have the car judged. I asked Pat give me some pointers for repair. Any thoughts would be helpful. thanks Oh the car is a 69 no tilt steering wheel.

Joe

[Pat M.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Joe, if I recall correctly you have to remove just about everything you would to remove the ignition lock, but I don't think you have to remove the lock. Here's a recent thread about what you'd need to do to remove the ignition lock (which again, I don't think you have to do) with a couple good pictures showing the buzzer position:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=75029&highlight=ignition+lock+removal&uid=8388

If you look at the large phillips' screw at the three o'clock position, the little square box just to the top left of this screw is where the buzzer goes. The first photo shows no buzzer in place, the second does.

Once you get to this point as I recall the buzzer switch simply slips out, and then you replace it with a new one. Here's a pic from Ebay of what one looks like, although I think this is a tele/tilt buzzer. (I'm not endorsing and I'm not associated with this seller, just using the photo for illustrative purposes) Good Luck

[Joe L.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

The warning that the key is in the ignition buzzes if the key is in or out when the door is open. Has any one experienced this and how do I repair this?

Joseph-----


If you're talking about a 1969-78 Corvette WITHOUT tilt/tele column, you can still get the switch from GM under GM #7804414. It's about 20 bucks, GM list.

If you have a tilt/tele column, the switch is long-since GM-discontinued. However, you can get it in the reproduction market.

[Joseph K.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Joe, if I recall correctly you have to remove just about everything you would to remove the ignition lock, but I don't think you have to remove the lock. Here's a recent thread about what you'd need to do to remove the ignition lock (which again, I don't think you have to do) with a couple good pictures showing the buzzer position:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=75029&highlight=ignition+lock+removal&uid=8388

If you look at the large phillips' screw at the three o'clock position, the little square box just to the top left of this screw is where the buzzer goes. The first photo shows no buzzer in place, the second does.

Once you get to this point as I recall the buzzer switch simply slips out, and then you replace it with a new one. Here's a pic from Ebay of what one looks like, although I think this is a tele/tilt buzzer. (I'm not endorsing and I'm not associated with this seller, just using the photo for illustrative purposes) Good Luck

Pat

Thanks for the help. I will give it a go this week end if I can get the part.

Joe

[Kenneth T.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Joseph,

If you have a non-tilt column, the switch has a bow-type clip that retains the switch in the column. When removing your old one be careful that it does not come loose and fall into the column or fly on you. Keep a small pencil magnet handy. I was able to buy the switch but that clip is a different matter.

If, when you remove the switch it looks all in one piece and ok then there is one more thing to look at. The ignition switch itself. When you insert the key it pushes a small plastic button outward which presses on the buzzer switch and closes it. I have seen where the button on the ignition switch gets stuck in the outward position causing a "key is in" all the time situtation. That is where the WD mentioned earlier may help. Good luck.

Ken

[Jack H.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Your copy of the Chassis Service Manual should provide a step-step tutorial on replacing the key minder warning switch. It's not rocket science, but you will want to read about the special tools used to disassemble/re-assemble the upper portion of the steering column.

Also, as others have said, the switch is housed in a retaining 'clip' and you want to exercise care in the removal so you don't lose parts down the inside of the column assy!

Last, you don't 'repair' this switch, you replace it. That's IF it's the switch that's the source of your malfunction. As mentioned, a defective ignition switch cylinder can also create the continuous buzzing symptom you're complaining of with the switch being A-OK.

The diagnosis is to pull the switch and visually inspect it for integrity...

[John H.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

The illustrated step-by-step procedure is shown on pages 9-10 thru 9-12 in the 1969 Chassis Service Manual.

[Joseph H.]

Re: Buzzing driving me crazy

Joe,
I was having a similar problem in my 69' non tilt tele. I picked up a replacement buzzer switch. The CSM has the procedure to replace it. You can get the tools to pull the upper column apart from any parts store. Just leave a deposit and it will be returned when you return the tool. It was not as bad a job as I thought.

Joe