Anyone else have a loose steering column?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yea loose swivel, I suppose. I can take a video of it when I get a chance.
It kinda seems like someone, over time, when getting in and out of the car, put pressure/weight on the top of the steering wheel.
I.....HATE.....LUBBOCK
Terrible place to keep a car clean. Dirt, wind, grime.... everywhere.
And everything is over priced in this city as well.
Only good thing is that scoggin dickey is down the road from me. Saves on shipping I suppose.
It kinda seems like someone, over time, when getting in and out of the car, put pressure/weight on the top of the steering wheel.
I.....HATE.....LUBBOCK
Terrible place to keep a car clean. Dirt, wind, grime.... everywhere.
And everything is over priced in this city as well.
Only good thing is that scoggin dickey is down the road from me. Saves on shipping I suppose.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,947
From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
A common problem for GM tilt wheels. It can be fixed.
If you want to do it yourself, if you have trouble I can talk you through it...
1.)You must remove the steeering wheel.(you'll need a "wheel puller from an auto parts store like $10)
2.)Remove the snap ring & spring (a special spring compressor is needed, and can be bought at parts stores for like $12, and snap ring pliers like $8 at a hardware store.)
3.)Remove the screw securing the turn signal lever, and the metal piece it was securing to the signal switch. (remember how it's positioned)
4.)Remove the "turn signal cam switch", like 3, course screws.
5.)Now, under the dash you'll have to pop the wire connector off of the steering column, it's just clipped there to stay out of the way. This will give you some slack in the wiring to Pull the "turn signal switch" forwards a couple of inches, clearing the steering column center.
6.)Remove the "key reminder alarm", looks like a copper "bobby pin". This will give you access to the Ignition tumbler torx screw.
7.)Remove the ignition tumbler torx screw, and pull out the ignition key tumbler.
8.)Now you'll see 3 maybe 4 bright colored large torx screws. Remove them. Now the center cover of the column will be loose.
9.) Remove the "tilt lever", just unscrew it from the column.
10.)Slide the center cover off of the column, but first locate the dimmier switch cam and note how it's positioned, it's near the tilt lever, inside the cover.(a black plastic piece that pushes on the dimmer rod.)
11.)Now you should have access to the "tilt attachement" 11 point screws. You'll need a flashlight to look into the center of the column. They can be reached through the existing holes with a 1/4" drive wratchet using a long extension and a 1/4" - 11 point socket. There are 4, but you can only reach 3. It will however be enough....(upper left,lower left and lower right.)
Reassemble in reverse order, NOTE the steering wheel spring removed early on will need to be installed with the spring compressor, it's a stout spring!...
Also, the key reminder alarm has a spring that must be clipped to it properly before it'll fit back into the hole.
If you want to do it yourself, if you have trouble I can talk you through it...
1.)You must remove the steeering wheel.(you'll need a "wheel puller from an auto parts store like $10)
2.)Remove the snap ring & spring (a special spring compressor is needed, and can be bought at parts stores for like $12, and snap ring pliers like $8 at a hardware store.)
3.)Remove the screw securing the turn signal lever, and the metal piece it was securing to the signal switch. (remember how it's positioned)
4.)Remove the "turn signal cam switch", like 3, course screws.
5.)Now, under the dash you'll have to pop the wire connector off of the steering column, it's just clipped there to stay out of the way. This will give you some slack in the wiring to Pull the "turn signal switch" forwards a couple of inches, clearing the steering column center.
6.)Remove the "key reminder alarm", looks like a copper "bobby pin". This will give you access to the Ignition tumbler torx screw.
7.)Remove the ignition tumbler torx screw, and pull out the ignition key tumbler.
8.)Now you'll see 3 maybe 4 bright colored large torx screws. Remove them. Now the center cover of the column will be loose.
9.) Remove the "tilt lever", just unscrew it from the column.
10.)Slide the center cover off of the column, but first locate the dimmier switch cam and note how it's positioned, it's near the tilt lever, inside the cover.(a black plastic piece that pushes on the dimmer rod.)
11.)Now you should have access to the "tilt attachement" 11 point screws. You'll need a flashlight to look into the center of the column. They can be reached through the existing holes with a 1/4" drive wratchet using a long extension and a 1/4" - 11 point socket. There are 4, but you can only reach 3. It will however be enough....(upper left,lower left and lower right.)
Reassemble in reverse order, NOTE the steering wheel spring removed early on will need to be installed with the spring compressor, it's a stout spring!...
Also, the key reminder alarm has a spring that must be clipped to it properly before it'll fit back into the hole.
Last edited by 90rocz; Dec 7, 2003 at 03:36 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 312
From: Tucson, Arizona USA
This is a typical problem with our tilt columns. There are two bolts within the column that tend to loosen over time. Tightening them is simple, getting to them is very difficult. Everything on the top end of the column must be removed to access the bolts, including turn signal switch, ignition switch, headlamp dimmer.... everything. You'll need a Torx socket for the bolts -- can't recall the size. Also, I had to grind down the socket itself so it would slip through an access hole to one of the bolts.... What a pain.
I really didn't like Lubbock either. It's totally flat, surrounded by farmland (dust storms in the spring) and there wasn't much to do. A joke among my friends is that Lubbock is at least six hours away from any civilization (Dallas!). When I lived there, Scoggin Dickey was not selling performance parts, they were simply a GM dealership (Buick and Olds, right?).
Willie
I really didn't like Lubbock either. It's totally flat, surrounded by farmland (dust storms in the spring) and there wasn't much to do. A joke among my friends is that Lubbock is at least six hours away from any civilization (Dallas!). When I lived there, Scoggin Dickey was not selling performance parts, they were simply a GM dealership (Buick and Olds, right?).
Willie
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 33
From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Check out this link. It has to be by far one of the best internet articles I have yet seen. I found this on the Astro/Safari Van site, but this is an f-body (the assemblies are apparently the same).
Pictural Steering Wheel Adjustment
Who has time to do this?
Pictural Steering Wheel Adjustment
Who has time to do this?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,947
From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
Yes, remove the "S.R.S." (air bag) fuse. Then remove the 4 -10mm headed screws securing it from the back. Remove the Air Bag assembly by detaching the "horn" and "detenation" wires. It'll be safe now...but "do NOT probe these wires with any meters etc", it could detenate if you do!...
The only other difference is the cover, just under the steering wheel, it must be reinstalled with the bulge centered straight up between the notches. You'll see what I mean if you look carefully before removal.
Now the rest is as above, reinstall in reverse order, the fuse being LAST...
My '90 has an air bag, I've had it apart several times, once for this reason too...
The only other difference is the cover, just under the steering wheel, it must be reinstalled with the bulge centered straight up between the notches. You'll see what I mean if you look carefully before removal.
Now the rest is as above, reinstall in reverse order, the fuse being LAST...
My '90 has an air bag, I've had it apart several times, once for this reason too...
Guest
Posts: n/a
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 9
From: Ft.Wayne Indiana
Re: Anyone else have a loose steering column?
Originally posted by Pro
It was loose since I bought the car back in like May.
Just curious if it is normal. Maybe someone tried to jack the car at one time?
It was loose since I bought the car back in like May.
Just curious if it is normal. Maybe someone tried to jack the car at one time?
They are relatively easy to get to, just tighten them up.
Guest
Posts: n/a
One thing I forgot to mention is that the turn signal lever needs to be changed as well. Can I just pick up one of those levers that they have at like autozone? (They look identical).
My truck has one that looks very much like it as well... In fact it just feels like a better plastic. Curious if they are interchangeable.
Here are a couple of pictures of the two:
ftp://68.1.231.79/cruise/truck.JPG
ftp://68.1.231.79/cruise/camaro.JPG
My truck has one that looks very much like it as well... In fact it just feels like a better plastic. Curious if they are interchangeable.
Here are a couple of pictures of the two:
ftp://68.1.231.79/cruise/truck.JPG
ftp://68.1.231.79/cruise/camaro.JPG
Registered User
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,947
From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
Yeah, they should just pull straight out, but the harness plugs in under the steering column and is threaded down through it.
You'll have to pull on the wiring while looking under there and trace and unplug the original. The hard part is threading the new one down through the column, I've done it but it takes MUCH patience...
You'll have to pull on the wiring while looking under there and trace and unplug the original. The hard part is threading the new one down through the column, I've done it but it takes MUCH patience...
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