03 Silverado - bad ignition? won't crank?

[zarg]

2003 Chevy Silverado 1500 4.8

 

Truck was stolen over a year ago but I got it back. The thief damaged the lock cylinder so I had a buddy replace it, who had to use a hammer and a flathead to get it out.

The new cylinder worked for a while but quickly started to crap out, even though it was brand new. I could slide the key out any time I wanted. Eventually it stopped going to the 'lock position', which left the battery turned 'on' all the time. Being the lazy slob I am I took to just unhooking the battery rather than fixing it.

 

Fast forward ten months. Now turning the ignition to 'crank' the truck doesn't start. The dashlights blink, but nothing happens and it doesn't try to crank. BUT I can still start it if I jump the starter fuse off the battery.

 

Steps taken: I replaced both the ignition switch and the lock cylinder. Still exactly the same! Brand new components still won't go to 'lock', truck still won't try to crank, with the added bonus of now I can't pull the new key out of the ignition without removing the cylinder first. (Actually not completely true, I wiggled it and yanked on it and managed to pull it free, but it felt like I was doing the wrong thing, and the fine metal dust left on the key told me the pins didn't like it)

 

I'm stumped. Any ideas?

Edited January 14, 2022 by zarg

[richard wysong]

it may be the neutral switch on the trans. lock cylinder is just that, as long as it turns the switch lts not that

[richard wysong]

try starting it with just the i switch. sounds like the shifters not going all the way into park maybe, that would explain why it won't go to lock position

[Sharpz]

I recommend you take it to a dealership or a professional and actually get the steering column replaced before your security shuts you out and leaves you stranded somewhere.  

[Supreme Pizza]

There may have been some damage done to the steering column when your buddy used a "hammer" to get the old one out. The ignition lock mechanisms are fairly complicated and you need to be careful when removing them.

[zarg]

14 hours ago, Sharpz said:

I recommend you take it to a dealership or a professional

I'll call the dealership today. Another friend of mine (not the hammer guy) suggested getting a refurbished steering column from a scrapyard BUT I'm not sure I wanna keep screwing around with this.
 

13 hours ago, Supreme Pizza said:

There may have been some damage done to the steering column when your buddy used a "hammer" to get the old one out. The ignition lock mechanisms are fairly complicated and you need to be careful when removing them.

Y'know, everybody says this guy's a great mechanic but he's never actually fixed anything he's worked on for me.

[Sharpz]

That would be the cheaper route to go for sure, as long as you get someone who knows what they are doing and can if need be reprogram your bcm you would be fine.  Especially as long as you keep it away from the guy with the hammer and screw driver.