Is the ignition switch or cylinder bad on a 1988 Continental when you need to push the key past the on position to keep the digital dash lights on?

Answer 1

Impossible to say for sure until you look but I'd guess it's the lock cylinder. I am not familiar with your Continental, BUT have worked on Ford products for over fifty years. It is very possible that the problem is simply a misadjustment of the linkage between the lock cylinder and the ignition switch itself. Unsually on Ford products, the ignition switch is NOT located AT the lock cylinder, but instead is mounted on the top side of the steering column below and behind the instrument panel, just above the brake pedal. The linkage between the lock cylinder and the ignition switch is a small diameter metal rod, and the relationship of the two is adjusted by loosening two screws on the ignition switch itself, and moving it closer to, or farther away from, the lock cylinder. I would check and readjust before attempting to replace [expensive] either the ignition switch or the lock cylinder.j3h