Steering Column

I don't know if this is the place to ask this question, but I am new, so bear with me. I have a 1996 Chevrolet Suburban. My mechanic has told me that one of the wiring harnesses in the steering column has a burned wire (I suspect from a headlight dimmer switch that went bad). Also, the lower steering column shroud is broken. The car has a passive restraint system. My mechanic wants to charge me $700. I am sure this is a fair price, but my daughter is getting married in October, and I have a son in college, so I would like to try and save some money. Does anyone have any advice on how I would go about getting into the steering column? Is there a website out there with instructions?

If I were you I would take it to a few mechanics and get a couple of prices. Let them know that you are not a stupid person and what you mechanic said. I dont know what state you like in but here in Jersey they charge $70.00 per hour and that would be 10 hours. The Labor Manual quotes only 3 to 4 hours with differnt options just to rebuild the column completely. Sounds to me you need a new mechanic.