ignition switch stuck on

[67malibu]

'88 K1500 350: I've had some minor issues with the shift lever being a little stuck in park when I first crank it up in the mornings in the past but a little gentle pull always dislodged it. This afternoon the shift lever felt really stuck. I noticed that the radio clock and vent controls weren't lit up, even though the truck was running with the key in the on position. After a few forceful pulls and pushes, the lever came out of park and I put it in drive, but the vent controls and clock didn't come on. After putting it into park then back into drive, the lights and clock came on and I heard the outside vent opening up. When I got home, I noticed the ignition was stuck in the on position, but I could shift without problem. Pulling, pushing and running the shifter around while wiggling the ignition switch didn't accomplish anything (did this once on a 64 impala with a bad neutral safety switch to crank it.) I pulled the injector fuse to kill it and unhooked the battery. What all is broke in there? I've known people have had this happen but it hasn't happened to me until now. Is this just a neutral safety switch issue or ignition switch problem?

[777stickman]

From reading you post I would have to suspect the ignition switch and/or related linkage.

[67malibu]

I screwed around with it some more and now it the ignition switch is frozen in the on position. I unhooked, adjusted, hooked back up and messed around with the neutral safety some more to no avail. Now I have to jump the stator to the battery to crank it. I'll open up the steering column tomorrow. What actually physically locks the tumbler (during normal operation) while the shift lever is in anything other than park and neutral?

[horse482]

Could be a bad rack and pinion gear. It is what moves the ignition rod behind the key switch. You can buy them at an auto parts store.