How do you change the ignition switch in a 1988 Buick regal?

Question

the covering around the steering colum is one solid peice. it has tilt steering

I removed the steering wheel, horn, and split the pivot so i could see and there was a molded hump covering the key cylinder. I also took off the plastic cover over the key cylinder and there is a slot at the base but it is also solid and nothing can be slide under it. I think the tip that turns the rack is broken off the rear of the key cylinder. because the cover does not split in half I still need help.

Answer 1

If you are changing the ignition switch, you have to remove all the under dash panels and drop the steering column as the switch is on the top of the column near the base. If you are changing the ignition cylinder, you have to remove the horn pad, steering wheel, and the under dash panels. Disconnect the turn signal switch and unhook the switch wiring from the column support. Then remove the switch and column cover screws and slide that stuff off or up. Then you just have to remove the cylinder lock bolt and the cylinder slides out. Good Luck.

Answer 2

you need to unbolt the column itself so you can drop the column onto the seat it is bolted to the top side of the column you unscrew it the unplug it, after removing the old one, you carefully feedthe wires through the same way the old ones came out, plug it in put your screws back, that is of course if its not the key tumbler