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How to Replace Ignition Lock Cylinder Case Housing 1997-2003 Chevy Malibu

Created on: 2011-09-28

Learn how to replace the ignition lock cylinder in this 1A Auto tutorial video.

  1. step 1 :Accessing the Lock Cylinder Case
    • Use an 8mm wrench to disconnect your negative battery cable
    • Remove the car cigarette lighter
    • Pull the ashtray out
    • Remove the trim panel. Unplug the cigarette lighter to free it
    • Remove the three 7mm bolts that hold the radio in
    • Pull the radio out and disconnect the radio and antenna connections to free the radio
  2. step 2 :Changing the Lock Cylinder Case
    • Turn the key to the on position
    • Insert a screwdriver into the small hole underneath the lock cylinder
    • Pull the key back to remove the lock cylinder
    • Press the small button on the back of the cylinder while pushing to separate the case from the cylinder
    • Push the button down and slide the cylinder into the new case
    • Turn the key to on and reinsert the cylinder
  3. step 3 :Replacing the Radio and Trim
    • Reconnect the radio and antenna to the radio
    • Line up the radio and push it into place
    • Reinsert the three bolts
    • Reconnect the cigarette lighter and snap the trim back into place
    • Replace the ashtray and lighter
    • Reconnect the battery

Tools needed

  • Flat Blade Screwdriver

    8mm Wrench

    7mm Socket

Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the internet.

In this video, we're going to show you how to replace your ignition lock cylinder case on this 2001 Chevy Malibu, same as any '97 to '03 Malibu.

Tools you'll need for this repair include 8 mm wrench; 7 mm socket and ratchet with an extension; short, small screwdriver and small flat blade screwdriver.

Take your 8 mm wrench and disconnect your negative battery cable. Now you want to take your cigarette lighter out. Pull that back and pull your ashtray out and then just pull the bottom of this trim panel. It comes right off. Your cigarette lighter is going to be plugged in right here. There's just two tabs that you push on. Disconnect that. Pull this out of the way and shift back in. Move your key and remove that.

There are three 7mm bolts that hold your radio in. Fast forward here as we remove those three bolts. Take the radio out. In the back is an antenna connection and the actual radio connection. Press on this tab here and your radio comes out. Insert your key, turn it to the on position. Inside here, with a skinny, small screwdriver, there's a rectangular hole. You want to press right in there. You can pull your whole lock cylinder right out. The way it's supposed to come apart is you can turn it if you look in the back here, you'll see a couple things. You'll see right here is a key way that has to go through this little slot. Over here, there's a little button to depress with a small screwdriver. You depress that button and also push at the same time and the lock cylinder comes out. What just fell off there was the spring and button that you press down. They go right in here.

New housing, push the button down. Put it all together. It works correctly. Make sure you have your key in the run position. Put your cylinder back in. The radio, connect your antenna and the radio. The radio has this tab back on here. It goes into a hole in the back of the dash.

I'm going to speed it up. Like I said, line up that radio, get it back in there. The three 7-mm screws that hold it in place, make them firm but don't over tighten them. Then put the bezel back on. Remember you've got to switch it into neutral to get it in there. Make sure you reconnect your lighter and put that bezel back on. Reconnect your battery and you should be all set.

We hope this helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the internet. Please feel free to call us toll free at 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the internet and in person.


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