There are several reasons why your Chevy may refuse to start when ignited.
It may be due to faulty spark plugs, a bad battery, dirty distribution caps, no injection pulse, or a faulty ignition system.
In this article, we will discuss how to bypass Chevy Ignition Switch Without Key to enable you to start your vehicle.
Let’s start.
What is a Chevy Ignition Switch?
Your Chevy’s ignition switch is also called a starter switch.
It is a component of your Chevy’s control system.
Its primary function is to activate your vehicle’s electrical systems, including the power windows, radios, and more.
Chevys with an internal combustion engine have ignition switches that power the components of the ignition system.
The ignition system includes the ignition coil and the control unit of your Chevy’s engine.
The ignition switch also powers the vehicle’s starter solenoid for activating the starter motor.
Your Chevy’s ignition starts when you turn the ignition key after inserting it into the slot.
You can turn the key into four different positions, including on, lock, acc, and start.
How to Bypass Chevy Ignition Switch [03 Methods]
Newer Chevy models have put more security measures to prevent bypassing the ignition switch.
However, it is much easier to bypass the ignition switch of older Chevy truck models.
However, we advise that you take extreme caution when messing around with your Chevy’s wiring.
In addition, you should consult your Chevy’s manual to enable you to identify the correct color codes of your truck’s model.
Do not use any of these methods except if you own the Chevy truck.
Here are three different methods you can use to bypass your Chevy’s ignition switch:
01. Hot-Wiring Your Chevy’s Steering Column
One of the ways to bypass your Chevy’s ignition switch is by hot wiring the steering column.
Before starting the process, check your Chevy’s owner manual to be sure you can override the gear selector and steering column.
It is critical to need that you may damage your Chevy’s steering column and shifting mechanism while attempting this method.
The first step is removing your steering column’s plastic cover. The plastic covers are secured using concealed clips or screws.
Free the access panels by removing the screws or clips.
Some older Chevy models may require you to break the ignition locking pins by forcing a screwdriver into Chevy’s keyhole.
A hammer is needed for driving the screwdriver into the keyhole.
The next step is to locate your Chevy’s wiring harness connector.
Once you do that, the electrical wires become exposed.
You don’t have to be confused by the sight of different wires.
It is vital to know what each wire represents.
The wires may be categorized into three.
The first is the Wires that lead to the column controls, including cruise control.
The second category of wires controls your Chevy’s seat warmers or wipers.
Finally, the last set of wires leads to your Chevy’s starter, ignition, and battery.
Your primary focus is wired leading to the starter wire bundle, ignition, and wire.
There are three wires in this category, and each has a distinctive color.
It is vital to check your Chevy’s manual to identify each wire correctly.
In some cases, the starter wires are yellow, the battery wires are red, and the ignition wires are brown.
Strip and twist together 2.5cm of the battery wires.
Use an electrician tape to wrap the wires and avoid allowing them to touch any metal component in your Chevy’s truck.
By connecting these wires, you provide the ignition components with electricity.
It also powers your engine when you turn the starter.
The next step is to connect the battery wire to the ignition wire.
Once you do this, your Chevy’s electrical components will become active.
At this point, you can listen to the radio but may need to spark the starter wire to drive your truck.
It is critical to be extremely careful when connecting the starter wire to the battery wire.
Avoid twisting the wires because a spark is all you need to start your Chevy truck.
The next phase requires you to rev the engine to avoid stalling and repeating the process.
After successfully starting the engine, you can detach the wires and drive your truck.
To turn off the engine, you should separate the ignition wires from the battery wires.
However, before you can successfully drive your truck, there is one more thing to do.
You have to break the steering lock.
Some Chevy models require popping off the metal keyhole.
It releases the spring and breaks the steering lock.
Jamming a screwdriver into the keyhole would also break the lock for older models.
For some Chevy models, you may crank the wheel to either side for it to be free.
This video will guide you.
02. Drilling the Lock Pins
Drilling the lock pin is another method to bypass the ignition switch.
Your primary aim is to destroy the lock pins so that you can turn your truck with the aid of a screwdriver instead of a key.
You may use this method if you lose your Chevy’s key.
Once you are set, you should drill into the keyhole about the length of your Chevy’s key.
There are two sections and a spring in every lock pin.
To ensure the bits fall into place, it is advisable to drill the keyhole more than once.
The final step involves placing the screwdriver into the keyhole as if it were your Chevy’s key.
You may not need to insert the screwdriver deep into the keyhole since the pins are already broken.
Slightly turn the screwdriver in a clockwise direction to try and start your Chevy’s engine.
The drawback of this method is that it may damage your Chevy’s key switch.
It may also make your Chevy vulnerable to theft because anyone can steal your truck provided they have a strong fingernail or a screwdriver.
This video will guide you to drill the lock cylinder on Chevy Silverado.
03. Powering the Dash
The final method you can bypass your Chevy’s ignition switch is by powering the dash.
Open your Chevy hood and find the red coil wire.
You can find the coil and plug wires at the end of all types of V8 engines.
If your Chevy uses a four-cylinder engine, the plug and coil wires may be spotted on the right side close to the engine centre.
For Chevy’s with six-cylinder engines, the coil and plug wires may lie on the left side close to the middle of the engine.
Once you have located the coil and plug wires location, the next thing is to bring out your jumper cables.
The approach involves running your jump cable from your battery’s positive terminal to the red wire leading to the coil or the positive sides of the coil itself.
Once you have made the connection, your Chevy dashboard becomes activated.
The next step is to locate your Chevy’s starter solenoid and place a screwdriver with a flat blade in the centre of your truck’s steering column.
Next, try to push the screwdriver between the column and the wheel.
The aim of doing this is to disengage the locking pin from your Chevy’s wheel.
You may have to apply some effort to achieve this.
Disengaging the locking pins may not set off any alarms.
After removing the locking pins, you may find the solenoid.
The final step is to connect the positive terminal of your truck’s battery to the solenoid.
You may find a small wire above the positive battery terminal and the solenoid.
First, ensure you separate the solenoid from the ignition switch wire with an insulated screwdriver.
Next, connect the positive post of the solenoid to the same terminal connecting your ignition switch.
Making this connection ensures your battery delivers 12 volts.
The voltage supply from your Chevy’s battery activates the solenoid.
It also helps the starter to crank your truck.
How to Remove Chevy Ignition Lock Cylinder Without Key [02 DIY Methods]
Your Chevy’s ignition lock cylinder is a critical component of your truck’s engine.
The spark produced by the ignition cylinder is necessary for igniting the compressed air and fuel mixture in the engine.
Losing your key may hinder you from turning your Chevy’s ignition cylinder and getting it to start.
Calling a professional technician may be the best approach to removing an ignition lock cylinder.
First, however, we shall show you two simple DIY methods for removing your Chevy’s ignition lock cylinder when you lose your key.
DIY Method 01: Removing Ignition Lock Cylinder with a Screwdriver
Using a screwdriver to remove an ignition lock cylinder without a key requires a great deal of technique.
However, you may get it done by following the steps we shall highlight.
The most important tool you can use for this method is your screwdriver.
In this case, a flatbed screwdriver would suffice due to its wedge shape and flat head.
There are different sizes of flatbed screwdrivers, including ¼ by 4, 1/8 by 4, 3/16 by 1 ½, and more.
The first number is the width, while the second number represents the screwdriver’s length.
When selecting a flatbed screwdriver, it is advisable to select thin enough to fit into the lock cylinder.
You should also select a flatbed screwdriver with the correct length for easy handling.
Here is a step-by-step way of removing the ignition lock cylinder with a screwdriver
01. Disconnect the battery
It is critical to disconnect the battery when removing the ignition lock cylinder to prevent shorting any electrical component in your car.
Disconnecting your battery also helps prevent electric shock.
You can disconnect the battery by removing the negative end o the cable terminal.
02. Remove the steering wheel
After disconnecting the battery, you should remove your Chevy steering wheel.
Removing the steering wheel allows you to access the lock cylinder.
Next, lift both the lower and upper covers by removing all the screws and securing them in place.
To remove the steering wheel, lift it upwards and pull it off the central cover.
Once done, ensure the wires connected to your Chevy’s horn are disconnected.
Finally, completely pull out the steering wheel from the shaft.
03. Remove the indicator switches and the wipers
Check your Chevy’s manual to locate the indicator switches and pull them out.
You should also pull out the wipers.
04. Remove your Chevy’s column sleeve and disconnect the ignition switch
It is vital to remove the steering wheel column.
Disconnect the ignition switch wires, but first, you have to unscrew the mounting screws securing the ignition switch.
05. Remove the mounting bolts
A flatbed screwdriver can be used to remove the mounting bolts from your Chevy’s ignition switch.
A hammer may be used to drive the screwdriver gently into the lock to remove the bolts.
To avoid damaging the lock, you may use specialized pins to operate the lock’s release mechanism.
06. Remove the ignition switch
Once you have broken the mounting bolts, you can insert your flatbed screwdriver into the lock cylinder hole and turn it in anticlockwise.
Then, you can easily slide out the ignition switch.
This video will completely guide you on how to open the ignition lock Chevy without a key.
DIY Method 02: Removing Ignition Switch Cylinder Using a Drilling Machine.
A drilling machine may also be used while you remove your Chevy’s ignition switch cylinder with a screwdriver.
However, the drilling method should be your last resort to reduce damage to the lock cylinder.
Therefore, it is critical to carefully follow the steps to ensure the successful removal of the ignition switch with minimal damage to other components.
The tools required for this process include a power drill, hardened drill bit, and safety gloves.
Here are the steps to remove the ignition switch cylinder using a drilling machine:
01. Select the correct type of drill bit
It is vital to select the precise type of drill bit that fits into your Chevy’s lock cylinder.
It is advisable to select a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the cylinder.
Using a hardened drill bit can help cut through the cylinder.
It is preferable to a regular bit because it won’t get damaged when drilling into the cylinder.
02. Set the drill
Once you have selected the proper drilling bit, the next thing is to lock it, and it fits tightly into the drill chuck.
It is vital to put on protective gloves and ensure you set the drill at a low speed.
It may be preferable to use a cordless drill bit due to its flexibility.
03. Create a grove
It is advisable to begin drilling at low speed when creating a starter groove in your Chevy ignition lock cylinder.
Avoid drilling a deep hole to prevent the drill bit from slipping.
04. Complete the job
After creating the groove, you can set the drill speed to its maximum level to drill out your Chevy’s ignition lock cylinder.
However, it is not advisable to force the drill to avoid burning out the drill motor’s rotor.
Related FAQs
How to bypass the ignition switch on a Chevy Silverado truck?
There are various ways of bypassing your Chevy’s ignition switch.
You can use the hotwire method or make use of drilling bits.
Another method is by powering the dashboard.
You may need to create a spark between the ignition and battery wires for the hotwire method.
The drilling method involves drilling the lock cylinder and inserting a screwdriver as a key.
You can also activate your Chevy Silverado truck dashboard to bypass the ignition.
How to bypass the ignition switch on Chevy S10 Blazer?
The steps to bypass Chevy S10 Blazer are similar to other Chevy vehicles.
However, the primary difference is in the model.
For older Chevy S10 Blazer models, you can bypass the ignition switch using any previously mentioned methods.
However, it may be difficult to bypass newer models of the Chevy S10 Blazer, but it isn’t impossible to do so.
How to bypass the ignition switch 350 Chevy?
You may bypass your 350 Cherry ignition switch using the hot wiring method.
It requires you to create a tiny spark by connecting the naked ends of the battery wires and the ignition wires.
First, however, it is critical to check your 350 Chevy’s manual to know the identification of these wires and what their color codes represent.
What wires go to Chevy Ignition Switch?
The wires that go to your Chevy’s ignition switch are the red wires.
However, there are two red wires.
Aside from the ignition wire, the dimmer wire is also red, and it is responsible for turning Chevy’s radio on and off.
Therefore, it is critical to test both wires to know what leads to your ignition.
The red ignition wires start your Chevy when bypassing the ignition switch.
Can you bypass a Chevy ignition switch?
It is possible to bypass a Chevy ignition switch.
However, this depends on the model of the Chevy.
It is easier to bypass older models up to the mid-90s. But bypassing newer Chevy models may be complicated.
Using the hot wiring method, you can bypass the ignition switch of older Chevy models.
You may also activate the dashboard by connecting the solenoid to the ignition switch.
How much does an ignition switch replacement cost?
The average cost of replacing an ignition switch for your Chevy is $176 and $214.
The estimated labor cost is within the range of $77 to $98.
The estimated cost of purchasing the parts is $98 and $117.
However, this cost is exclusive of fees and taxes.
The automotive professional’s expertise and location may also affect the overall replacement cost.
Last Words
We have explained in detail how to bypass the Chevrolet Ignition switch without a key.
However, it is critical to note that bypassing newer Chevy models may be complicated compared to older models.
You can bypass your Chevy Ignition switch using hot wiring or activating the dashboard.
You can bypass the ignition switch by using a drill or screwdriver.
It is also possible for you to remove your Chevy’s ignition switch.
A flatbed screwdriver or a drilling bit may help remove the ignition switch in old Chevy models.
However, it is advisable to call an expert technician for a more professional job.