How to Replace Ignition Switch 2007-16 Chevy Silverado

Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. We've been selling auto parts for over 30 years.

What's up, guys? I'm Andy from 1A Auto. Here, I'm going to be replacing an ignition switch in this 2008 Chevy Silverado work truck. If you need this part or other parts for your vehicle, click the link in the description and head over to 1AAuto.com.

I'm going to disconnect the battery. This vehicle, there is a bracket missing here. Normally, there would be a bracket here with four 13mm bolts. You would take those out to access the negative battery cable. I'm just going to use a 10mm wrench, loosen up the cable. You can probably do it without taking that bracket off, but just make it easier to take the bracket off. Loosen this up, wiggle it back and forth and set it aside. We're going to remove this cover right here. Just grab under here with your hand, pull up, slides right out.

All right. Next, I'm going to take out a 10mm socket, extension, and a ratchet. We're going to remove a bolt that's underneath this parking brake release lever right here. Then, I'm going to take this release handle and slide it towards the front of the vehicle and then slip it out. There's these clips that hold it in. Next, I'm going to remove two screws. There's one right here. There's also one over here, this vehicle that's missing. Just a Phillips head screw, take that out.

Now I'm just going to grab this panel and pull it straight forward. There's clips on the back side right here, right here, and right here. Next, I'm going to grab this handle for this steering wheel adjustment and I'm just going to pull it straight outwards just like that. Pull it off. This generally is very hard to get off. If you have, just try to get a little screwdriver and pry it out, but you really got to force it out.

Now I'm going to grab this panel and pull it down. Sometimes there is screws that hold this lower steering column cover on, but this vehicle doesn't have screws, so just grab it, pull it straight down just like that. Now I want to take the upper cover off. I'm just going to adjust the steering wheel down. Just push back on that adjuster and then grab cover and just slide it right up just like that.

Then we're going to take the key, and I'm going to take a straight pick, put the key in the ignition, turn it to the Start position. It's important that you have the battery disconnected for this; otherwise, your vehicle will be starting right now. So I'm going to push down. There's a little pinhole right there. When you push that down, that release the lock cylinder. We can slide it right out, set it aside.

All right. Now, I'm going to disconnect this connector for the anti-theft control module. Just push this little tab down here and grab the connector, wiggle it out. Then on the back side here, I'm just going to take a pick and there's a little tab in the back. I'm just going to release that. This is where the tab is. I just release that. There's another clip on the other side. Slide the anti-theft control module right out.

All right. Now we're going to remove this connector right here. It's just a little bit tricky to see. Just going to take a pick, and then I'm going to twist it and then lift it out. This is what lets your vehicle know the key is in the ignition. There's a little tab right here. Just push on that tab and you twist it and pull it up. Now we want to disconnect the connector for the ignition switch, this little red. You got to pull it out about 1/4". Then I'm going to push on the button for the connector, push down there and then slide the connector right out. See that's that little lock tab. So you're going to pull that out.

All right. Now, before we remove the ignition switch itself, we need to reinstall the lock cylinder because the gears, we want the gears timed properly. So install the lock cylinder again, and because the lock cylinder's in the On position, we want to rotate it to the Off position and then to Accessory all the way to the left. We're going to grab the ignition switch, and we're going to push these two little squares right here. We're going to push these little lock tabs. They do make a special tool that you can do this together, but if you just do one at a time, it will work, and then slide it out, and then the gears in the proper position.

Here's the old ignition switch. Here's the new ignition switch from 1AAuto.com. As you can see, the shape is the same. It has the same wire with the same button on it. The connector is the same, and the gear is the same on the top. Get yours at 1AAuto.com. You'll be ready to rock and roll.

Make sure it's lined up. That's good. We'll take the new one, install the new one. Slide this in position, lock it in place. At this point, I can take the ignition cylinder out again, rotate it to the start position, and then push my pick in and remove the cylinder. Now we're going to plug the ignition switch in. Just take the connector, line it up, push it on. You're going to want to lock it in place and then push down on that red lock tab. Then we'll take this wire, and we're going to slide this in. There's a little hole up top here and then we're just going to twist it just like that, and it'll lock in place.

Then we'll take the theft control module and just slide it back on just like that. Take the connector, line it up, lock it in place. Now we're going to take the ignition cylinder. There is a little tab right here that you have to line up with the slot in the cylinder housing. Line that up, just wiggle it, then you're all set. Then we're going to install this upper cover or column cover just like that and lock that down. We're going to adjust the column up. Take the lower cover, just line this up. These little tabs you're going to want to line those tabs up with the upper cover and lock it in place.

Want to reinstall this steering wheel column adjustment lever. Just line this tab up and just lock it in place. All right. Now we're going to install this cover, just line it up, lock it in place. Then, next we're going to install this screw with Phillips head screwdriver, and if your vehicle had another one, you're going to install it over here as well, but this vehicle doesn't have it. Snug that up. Next, we'll install this parking brake cable release. Slide that over there, and then take a 10mm bolt, get this started right here. Now, install this side cover, just line those clips up, lock it in place.

Now I'm going to grab the negative battery cable, slide this over the terminal on the battery. Then we're going to take a 10mm wrench and just snug this up, not too tight. You don't want to break it. Just make sure you grab the terminal, grab the cable, and make sure it doesn't twist. That's good, and then if you had that bracket here, you're going to want to reinstall that bracket.

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