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Cadillac Repair/1990 cadillac Eldarado

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Expert: - 1/24/2010


Question
I think that the ignition switch is out. The keyswitch will move backand forth and it wont allow the power to shut off. wut do?

Answer
Hello,

this was a very common problem in this style of steering column. Unlike the normal Saginaw tilts, the locking mechanisms are on the right side. You have one of two problems, maybe both. I hope GM still stocks the parts, otherwise if you get a junkyard column, it will cost you a min of $250 over and beyond to replace the ignition lock and recode.

The rack and rod assembly have broken. The colmn has to be disassembled. The igntion lock gear has
probably broken off as well, which means you will need a new vats lock cylinder as well. This problem was very common and very costly to repair. There is no cheap fix.

In fact, this repairay cost more than the car is worth. If you can contact GM to see if a rack and rod assembly as well as the over priced ignition lock is available, I can refer you to a guy that can replace these parts, however you will need to remove the steering column and mail it to him.

Rebuilding these steering columns is an art and very few mechanics will touch them.

Rob

Cadillac Repair

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Rob Painter

Expertise

Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience

Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

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