short in steering column?

i own a Mitsubishi eclipse gs. whenever i tilt the steering wheel toward the up oposition everything dies. motor lights --everything. was told there must be a short in the column. any advise on how to remove the wheel and investigate to find possible shorted wire without air bag killing me!! the dealership says it had never heard of this problem---but will charge $50.00 per hr to find out what it is. maybe with your help i can do it myself.

thanks in advance
charlie

find some other machanic that will look at it for cheaper. ive never heard of that problem either. if you take it to the dealership, i guarantee they will just fiddle around with it for two days and then tell you they couldnt find out what was wrong. then you would have to pay them like $700 for nothing.

What year is the car? Taking apart the sterring column is fairly easy compared to other cars depending on youtr mechanical skilld. Go to this website, and it will show you how to take it apart.
http://www.fast-4ward.com/3GsvcManual/

it's a 2001. my main problem if whether or not it is a short. other than the obvious,(bare wire) what exactly else could i possibly look for?

i really appreciate everyones response, and, thanks again for any further input that may solve my problem. need to do this myself because of financial problems!!! if you know what i mean. should i extreme care when tinkering with the airbag removal---i have no special tool that is suggested in the manual.






What year is the car? Taking apart the sterring column is fairly easy compared to other cars depending on youtr mechanical skilld. Go to this website, and it will show you how to take it apart.
http://www.fast-4ward.com/3GsvcManual/