Beretta.net

I had my 1988 Beretta GT broken into last week and the ignition lock cylinder is messed up and will not start my car. I have tilt steering and cannot get the metal piece for the tilt steering (which needs a special tool) off just behind the steering wheel to get to the lock cylinder. A mechanic I know said the cylinder is still good but something behind it seems to be broken because there is no resistance to spring back from the start position. It will not even try to start at all because of this. The cylinder just seems dead except for when I turn it to about where the accessory position is my dash lights and radio come on. I was told that it might be easier and maybe cheaper to just replace the whole steering column but there is none to be found anywhere here in town (Phoenix, AZ.). I just need to bypass the ignition cylinder and get it started so I can drive it for a little while until I decide if I want to repair it or get rid of it. Any help would be appreciated.

There are tabs inside that the lock cylinder connects to. I was lucky when mine broke and I could still start my car, I just couldn't turn it off(had to pull a fuse to kill the engine). It didn't cost too much to have a shop fix the two broken rods. There is no need for a new column. On the bypass: I have no ideas.

When i bought my 90, it had broken ignition lock, so i used to start the car without keys at all until i swapped the steering column.

It's actually extremely easy to start without keys on 87-90 cars... all you have to do is unbolt the beauty cover under the dash and.. okay maybe i should not tell more

Its the same for 94-96 cars so I'm assuming 91-94 is the same as well... I know exactly what your talking about... I started my pink car for a week with no column in it to just run it, that was back when it was in the yard just sitting before the motor swap.

So how do I get this tilt steering piece that swivels up and down off so I can get in there and replace the lock cylinder and see if there is anything else behind the cylinder that is broken. My Haynes manual says you need a special tool to remove the pivot pins, I'm assuming these pivot pins are on the tilt piece. Some of the metal on the cylinder where the key inserts is twisted but the key does go all the way in and turns forwards and backwards but won't allow the starter to kick in. Any suggestions???

Sounds like the rods on the back of the lock cylinder are broken. Sorry man, I don't know how to fix them. As I said when I took mine to a shop it didn't cost too much. That would save you from taking the column apart and you would have it back in a day. That's all I got on this. Hope you get it fixed and keep it.
I need to read more, I see now that someone broke in to your car.

It looks like the acuator is broken where it connects to the backside of the lock cylinder. I did manage to get the lock cylinder out and drop the steering column from the dash. I did get it started last Sunday by having access to the ignition switch like weba stated. It looks like the rods are not broken or bent but the acuator is not moving correctly, thinking it has something to do with a broken plastic gear where it connects to the lock cylinder. These repair kits are not easy to find and are not cheap now. I'm thinking about splicing into the ignition switch harness and installing a push button start switch like the one that I saw on a Honda S2000 (I think). Will let you know how it turns out.

Try this, it's for junkyards in any area. It may help you find a column near you. http://www.car-part.com/index.htm

Thanks for the link info, great site. Didn't know it existed!

Sure man, hope that helps you get back on the road.

Hi! Thanks for the link for the used car-parts. I can really save bucks from this site. However, I had already purchased a ignition lock cylinder from the internet. I think they have some promos that is why I checked them out.

zenith wrote:I had already purchased a ignition lock cylinder from the internet. I think they have some promos that is why I checked them out.

forgot to include this. hehe