How Much Should An Ignition Switch Cost?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Ed, Dec 20, 2007.

  1. Ed

    Ed Guest

    I have a SL2, '97. Whta would the the cost be to replace the ignition +
    labour?

    Thank-you
     
    Ed, Dec 20, 2007
    #1
  2. Ed

    Doug Miller Guest

    Cost of labor is highly variable depending on location, which makes any answer
    you get here nearly worthless. Why not pick up the phone, call the nearest
    Saturn dealer, and ask?
     
    Doug Miller, Dec 20, 2007
    #2
  3. Ed

    byrdsfan Guest

    I paid like $450 in NYC like a couple of months after my LS2 warranty
    went out. That didnt inlcude the tow. This was in 2001.
     
    byrdsfan, Dec 21, 2007
    #3
  4. Ed

    Jon Jon Guest

    byrdsfan replied $450 give or take - prior to reading his post I was
    thinking my Sister paid about the same for hers on her '95 Saturn and
    apparently my thinking was accurate.
     
    Jon Jon, Dec 22, 2007
    #4
  5. That's about right probably.
     
    whitefordtruck, Dec 22, 2007
    #5
  6. Ed

    Lane Guest

    If you have some patience, a Haynes or Chilton manual, and a few tools, you
    can do this yourself and save a lot. If I recall correctly, the parts to
    replace the ignition cylinder were less than $30. You will need a very
    compact and thin-walled socket to remove the bottom trim piece off the
    steering column though due to an inset hex-head screw (this was on my '94).
    I found a 'skewdriver'-type tool from K-Mart for around $10 that came with
    very compact sockets - it easily fit into the opening to remove that screw.
    Info on the tool can be found here:
    http://toolmonger.com/2007/05/17/hot-or-not-the-skewdriver/

    You may also want to replace your keys, because they tend to get chewed up
    when the cylinder goes bad, and a chewed-up key also contributes to the
    difficulty in removing/turning it. Also, I've spoken with a Saturn tech
    that feels that heavy keychains dangling on the key can accelerate the wear
    of the cylinder over time. Makes sense.
    Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]
     
    Lane, Dec 23, 2007
    #6
  7. Ed

    ED Guest

    That's what I would guess it would cost so why did a poster say it would
    cost $450 to replace? After all, how much time would it take a mechanic to
    change it? An hour?


    You may also want to replace your keys, because they tend to get chewed up

    I think this was the problem (not from heavy keys though) because for a
    couple of months the key was hard to turn and I'd have to remove it or
    jiggle it and it seemed to get progressively worse until now I can't start
    it at all





     
    ED, Dec 23, 2007
    #7
  8. We had a '93 SL2 with a similar but different problem. After about
    220,000 miles, the worn ignition switch would take any ket that would
    physically fit into it. I discovered this when I accidentally used
    the key from my '93 Nissan Ultima!
     
    Son_Worshipper, Dec 23, 2007
    #8
  9. Ed

    Father Mike Guest

    That's a good one! Sounds like a great feature on some new model..
    universal ignition switch!
     
    Father Mike, Dec 24, 2007
    #9
  10. Ed

    debb Guest

    I just paid 550. Thats 310 for labor. A pretty high price, I think.
     
    debb, Jan 4, 2008
    #10
  11. I have a 97 sl1 and i spent 70.00$ 19.00 for the part the + tax and
    labor.
     
    Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Jan 7, 2008
    #11
  12. Ed

    ED Guest

    This sounds more reasonable since I doubt it would take over an hour to
    diagnose and change. So why are some people saying they paid $550, 450 etc
     
    ED, Jan 8, 2008
    #12
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