takin apart the ol' steering column

[camaromaniac]

im taking my steering wheel apart to try to see whats wrong with my ignition switch. does anyone know if it is possible to take the wheel off without one of those fancy steering wheel pullers?

[mike123]

ya just pull hard , lol if you cant get it just go borrow one from an auto zone or something i think there is a deposit , but i got mine off pretty easy with out one

you have a 90 camaro? does it have that little pellet thingy in teh key? if so might run into some problems with the VATS system and that stupid security feature. if you do you might have to test the resistance in ohm's then buy the right resistor at radio shack unless you get the same key i think there like 40 bucks =\

[camaromaniac]

yeah, mines a 90 rs. you mean the little black thing?what does it and what is VATS?

[mike123]

well its a little security feature where it puts a charge on the key and the little black pellet changes the ohm's so its the right key , as far as i know theres 14 differnt vavlues with them , i was pressed for money so i poped the pellet out and sodered a couple wires on them , it works but i dont know if i would suggest it ,at the bottom of the stearing column there will be two wires in a yellow sheath that has a connect at the base

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=237185

[camaromaniac]

well, i went out there and pulled as hard as i could and the thing wouldnt budge. maybe i should take a hammer to it.

[mike123]

whats teh matter you cant get your key out , dont take a hammer to it you might break teh housing around it i think its plastic, actually if you pull hard enough that key should come out , but start to tear it down , your gunna need a few tools , well pully puller if you cant get it off and then the lock depresser it screws on the stearing shaft and press down on that lock plate thingy so you can remove the C clip with a good pair of snap ring plyers its a bitch but it can be done

i had to borrow the tools from autozone cause i got tired of waitin for my dad , i think the deposit was like 15 bucks each tool or something

[camaromaniac]

nah,the keys fine. im trying to get the wheel off because im tryin to look at the ignition switch. every once in a while when i turn the key the car doesnt do anything. then about ten minutes later after i give the wheel a little shake it starts up fine. the switck is practicaly starting to fall out of the column. i was thinkin there might be a wire loose.

[89IROC&RS]

yeah, definatly sounds like a broken vats wire, happens alot,lock cylender is around 100 bucks, keys are 20-30 apeice, make sure you get the right pellet code on the new keys. but please, get the steering wheel puller, they exist for a reason. right tool for the right job. its like hammering on a bolt to unscrew it.

[camaromaniac]

but does that explain the cylinder about to fall out of the column?

[mike123]

actually my stearing wheel came off kinda easy eh for my dad lol but pull your stearing column apart and see if the locking screw is in there i changed the ignition on mine for a total of 15$ lol if you buy an ignition for non tilt for a 87 ohh and chrome is cheaper LOL hey but it works prefect

[ridge_runner]

i used a gear puller to get mine off..... if it is about to fall out of the column then your lock screw thing maybe came loose... can you pull it out completly??

[camaromaniac]

no,it just jiggles around alot

[ridge_runner]

does the WHOLE thing jiggle or just the inside of the cylinder??

[camaromaniac]

pretty much just the whole cylinder. I can pull it out about a quarter of an inch

[ridge_runner]

yea id say your lock screw is coming loose, you can just pull the steering wheel and tightin it and it should fix it