Steering wheel help!

Your a lot braver than I am. I had a similar occurance with my 93 GA a couple of years ago, $500 to the dealer and I had a new key and a working ignition switch. After I looked at what was involved in a copy of Chiltons I didn't want to even try to take the steering wheel off.

I suggest you get a Pontiac Service Manual & read up on the job. To try & explain the procedure and for you to try doing what was explained without see a picture diagram would be difficult.

Good Luck

========= Harryface =========

1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE, 3800 V6 _~_~_~_~274,504 miles_~_~_ ~_~_

I agree with HF that it's tough to explain, but I'll try: After you have removed everything that is in the way of the lock cylinder, there is either a recessed release button/tab to push with a pick tool or one last screw holding the cylinder. It should pull out after that.

-- GW - Conservational Ergonomist - note incorrect email address

Harry Face wrote:

Thanks for the messages.. I have a Chilton manual. The instruction is not specific enough and also there is missing information about the tilt steering column such as ignition switch. I am planning to replace lock cylinder and may be ingnition switch while I am in it even though I think the ignition switch is still okay. I thought if I can remove it, I can put it back together. Beside, I don't think I can srew-up anything big. At the moment, I have re-installed the steering wheel and the van is back to the way it was before I touched it. I have ordered the new lock switch (38 dollars) and ignition switch 35 dollars. Once the parts are in. I am going to remove the steering wheel again and hoping that I can find the ignition switch. The lock cylinder removal looks simple enough so I don't think I will have a problem with it.

I am still looking for advices from someone who may have done this before that could offers do's and dont's, or perhaps instruction as to how to access the ignition switch since I don't have any instruction about the ignition switch for tilt steering column.

Regards, Denis

"Denis" wrote

Ok, you have it back together again. When you get back down to where you were.....all you need to do is to put the key in the ignition cylinder and turn it to the "on" position. Then you need to "pick" the key buzzer switch out of it's hole. If it wasn't for the fact that part of the key buzzer switch sits over the bolt that retains the cylinder, you wouldn't even have to remove the key buzzer switch.

Note, there are two parts to the key buzzer switch.....and the spring clip that goes around the switch itself, often stays in the hole that switch is in. You can fish it out after the switch comes out.

Here are a couple of pics of the switch and spring...apart and together.

Once the switch is out, it's simply a matter of removing the bolt that holds the lock cylinder in place. The ignition switch itself is bolted to the steering column down further. It's actuated by the lock cylinder thru some gears and a pushrod.

Ian

Thanks Ian for the info. That is the same switch I saw under the steering wheel. Now that I see the switch construction, I should have no problem replacing the lock cylinder. I think I may have a problem replacing the ignition switch itself as it sit further down in the column. I can't even see the switch. I was trying to lower or raise the column protective sleeve to gain access of the switch but could not see how I can do it. I know it is possible if I could look at it for a while longer and with the lock cylinder out should help too.

one is installed?

Thanks again for the information. Denis

Update. I have located the ignition switch by lower the steering column. The switch is mounted on top of the column. I also have found the root cause of the problem is the ignition switch not the key lock switch. One of the contact (it is ACC) within the ignition switch melted, deformed the switch assy. to a point that it will not slide back and forth freely. Thank you all for the help.