Steering column replacement questions and no start problem.

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May 23, 2007 | 08:59 PM

Z95m6

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Registered User

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 6,070

From: newton, kansas, USA

Steering column replacement questions and no start problem.

Yesterday after work I went out to the Camaro to start it up. I pushed in on the clutch and tried to start it. The car cranked and was about to start when the ignition just cut out and the car quit cranking. I tried turning the key again and all the dash lights came on but the car wouldn't do anything. It wouldn't crank, the starter wouldn't click or nothing. All the dash lights are on so I still have power. I bypassed the clutch pedal switch with a jumper wire and continued to try to turn the key and see if it would start. While I was trying to do so the ignition switch locked up and wouldn't go forward anymore. I came home and tore the column apart and there is a spring that broke inside the column and fell into the ignition switch linkage. I've decide to replace the column instead of trying to repair this one. I have a few questions about this though. I was wondering if any 4th gen manual transmission steering column would fit and work in my car. I'm mostly worried about the electrical connections being the same. Also if I get a new column and key will I have to redo my VATS resistor setup wor will it work again? Next when I was tearing down the column I had to remove the lock cylinder. There was one of the two tiny wires on the lock cylinder that was broken. Could this be why the car didn't want to start again prior to the column locking up? I have VATS bypassed if that matters. Any help would be appreciated.

May 24, 2007 | 11:03 PM

montytrmpt

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Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 99

From: Omaha, NE

I replaced the column in my 1994 manual v6 after the fire. If you have the vats bypassed with that resistor trick you shouldn't have a problem. I'm not quite sure what the interchanges for years are. I bet the cruise and turn signal controls are the same for all 4th gens, though. I would only be worried about the airbag.

In fact, you could even put a column in from an automatic car. That's what I did, and now I don't have that dumb little button to get the key out of the cylinder.

Whatever you do, DONT SPIN THE WHEEL WHEN THE COLUMN IS DISCONNECTED! That will screw up the SIR coil and disable the airbags until you replace it.