Aftermarket junk ignition. Switch

Jezzz OK got new 1969 ignition switch,cylinder and key tumbler all put together through Megapartsusa been waiting on it get it out of the bag and the switch is garbage,turning the key feels like a dash fire,no detent between ON and OFF and Accessory and it doesn't return from start position Post edit) Does anybody have a quality part # Switch ,I have cylinder now

It could be you just got a bad one. Whenever I buy an aftermarket electronic sensor or switch it is typically standard motor products, and not the t series! I've had very good luck with them, and I just bought an ignition cylinder and switch for my 71 which both felt well built and work great.

There are probably other brands that are decent, but once I started using smp I've had such good luck and no failures that I've only used smp ever since (about 5 years)

Thanks for reply do they make the "69" only switch?I did manage to get cylinder out of switch but definitely need a higher quality switch thanks

Enlighten me what is the T series?

T series is standard motor product's budget series. Basically, any standard motor product part number that has a 'T' at the end is a t series.

They have an online catalog where you can search parts by make model and year.

I think the catalog only goes back to a certain year, you may have to call them and ask or call with an a.c. Delco part number and get their equivalent.



Here the link

http://ecatalog.smpcorp.com/TEC/#/vehicles

Nothing beats NOS. It may cost more $ but well worth it. Search E-bay or swap meets you have around you. You may even get lucky and find a good used original.

I don't know if I agree with that completely. When it comes to little sensors, switches, relays and vacuum switches like an egr, why drop 2 to 10x more $ on NOS when there are perfectly decent options like smp?? Unless you're trying to have an exact restoration of course. There are some parts I'd rather have nos of course, but an ignition switch that functions the exact same as a smp and costs $70 more??? No thanks. I will continue to use them until they stop making decent products. Of course, who knows, maybe I've just been lucky

I've had SMP stuff fail out of the box and it wasn't T series either.

Times two.
NOS electrical stuff has been sitting somewhere for decades.
Not the best bet for good connections.

No brand has 100% non-failure rate, NONE. In addition to that, parts get mistreated and bashed around by shipping companies and auto parts store employees, and by people who buy parts, break them, then return them for a refund and the part is put back on the shelf. So its not always the manufactures fault either.

Im not saying smp is perfect, but they've had the least amount of reported failures Ive ever heard of and dealt with. Also, anyone that makes a living off of repairing vehicles will experience a higher failure rate with any brand then most hobbyists.

It was a one year only for A, B & E-body. Part number 2864463. I'm thinking there were two different versions? An early one without a ground connector, and one with.

PM sent.

I feel your pain. I put a new "premium" switch in my Challenger when I did the resto and it failed.

As preventative measure, I put a new "premium" switch in a '78 Ford PU. Bad idea. I came home on a flatbed a few months later. Put the 35 YO original back in and rolling fine. I now have a coil resistance wire rigged with alligator clips behind the seat so I can jump the coil and get home if it fails.

On top of that, changing these things is not my favorite job.

I've started to disassemble, clean the contacts, lube with dielectric grease and reassemble many of the OE switches on my rides because a lot of the aftermarket stuff is junk. If the original is available and not working you have nothing to lose, and maybe can learn a new skill. Most stuff will have springs, detent balls, etc in them so I usually hold them together in a vise or some other means while I pry open any bent over tabs holding things together, then release the part slow so stuff doesn't go flying all over the place. I have cleaned up dimmer switches in headlight switches, heater fan switches and later key switches. I'd bet your new switch has an issue with whatever detent mechanism is built into it not working or not pushing hard enough so that you don't feel each position of the key. It may be that whatever spring is responsible for the detent feel isn't pushing hard enough. Maybe the check ball is missing from the factory.

Thanks Guys Member ahy,story is owner lost key told him what I needed,came back with new switch and key/tumbler I said where's the cylinder? He then ordered the whole 110$$ set off eBay,I get the stuff the switch from Megapartsusa and the autozone switch were both garbage good for insurance fraud I guess,so after I posted this yesterday out of frustration I drilled lock pin out of original pried cylinder out,put new ebag cylinder and key set in his original switch (60,0000 mile Daytona and it works like a charm.I am a mechanic for a living and totally understand the crap shoot with aftermarket electronics but why!!!Is it that hard to make something right then sell it to hard working people as pure junk and waste of time, and to the guy who isn't quite as bright as he aught to be burn his ride down,but I've mostly learned to laugh at this and not let it give me a freaking stroke but as you can see I posted this thread so it clearly P'd me off thanks for the good dialog interesting read.Moral of story should had a guy pic the lock to retain OE switch

Sixpak,I hear ya,I've repairs alot of 60s70s Ford turn signal switches that were obsolete guys would go to a salvage yard jerk a whole non color matching column where I would just unplug original pull switch up over steering shaft make the repair put back together while they were still on the way to the salvage yard😂

69 one year only switch.I sold a good used one for almost 75 bucks with key.The guy was happy and said it was cheap.I cant imagine what a NOS one would cost if you can find one.Rocky

Yeah NOS will be record breaking for a ignition part if these new 69 switches aren't fixed in quality control department pure junk.

There's still a few left !

Nice!