Expert: Rob Painter - 1/25/2011

Question
i took the steering wheel off and bought a pressure plate tool at the part store but the bolt is to short because the bolt the steering wheel was on moves in and out how do i get the pressure plate off to change the ignition key

Answer
Hello,

It's called a lock plate and I am going to share some secrets about the tilt/Tele column here.

You need a Philips screwdriver (1) and a small Phillips for the 4 way flasher.

You need a standard round hook tool, needle nose pliers and at the hardware store a 1" 5/16 x 18 cap screw with an Allen head.

Before you use the hook tool covering the horn contacts with three fingers (inverted basket design), you need to remove the pieces of hose of the shaft. Here is where you may run into a problem. There is an off white piece with three fingers you are looking at(inverted basket design). This is just a piece of plastic that grows brittle after time and I am afraid you can't buy one new from GM. I don't even know what this piece was called and up to 2 years ago I stocked 8 brand new ones in bags, but have since used them.

If you break this piece, you can no longer connect horn, because the piece insulates the contacts.

You can not man handle. Just so you understand how this piece fits, when you are assembling, you just push straight down on shaft and basket is pushed down and locks in. Just be very careful here!!!

You need a long hook tool in an attempt to remove without breaking. Once you pull that piece upward, you use the lock plate compressor to remove the plate. Before removing the c clip, turn the wheel to the 3 o clock position so that the c clip will come off to the right. Take a flat head screwdriver and pry c clip out. When removing the c clip pay attention to how it comes out. In fact, for final removal use a needle nose pliers and pay attention to the ticker end. This c clip only goes in one way. If you look at the two holes in the shaft where the c clip goes after you remove the lock plate, you will see one hole is bigger than the other.

Loosen the lock plate compressor and remove. Pull the lock plate and the cancel cam (the plastic piece underneath with the tower the horn wire goes into.

Remove three turn signal screws. Remove the turn signal pivot screw and pivot by sliding out.

Gently pull straight up on the turn signal switch to the top of the column to get out of the way. Make sure your turn signal screws are completely out so they don't fall down column.

OK, now you are at the lock cylinder, but you will find a white plastic part obstructing the removal of the final screw holding the lock cylinder in. That is your key buzzer.

Use the hook tool again to pull that out. Watch for the folded band spring. Should be found in the hole. Remove the screw holding the lock cylinder in. Remove screw with needle nose.

Insert the new lock and install bolt. Now, the key buzzer spring fits only one way on the buzzer and you match the hole with the pointed part on the spring.

Inside the key buzzer hole you will see a tang sticking into the hole. You need to turn ignition on and get a drop of Vaseline or any type of grease. Put it on the tang. With a screwdriver just push it upward out of the way.

Once you figured out how the spring goes on the buzzer, put the spring on and install with needle nose wiggling into hole until you can push in with your fingers.
Next, look at the bottom of the turn signal switch on the left side for what some would call a button (round protrusion) then look in the column and you will see a mating depression. Push the wiring down lining up these two indicators, making sure the switch is mounted flat in the column. Install the three screws.

Next, the pivot--the ball slides in the track and once aligned, the flat edge will go on the signal switch. Install the screw. Check your high beams. Move lever for left turn, then right turn making sure everything sure everything lines up.

Next--Install cancel cam. Install lock plate with all connections lining up in lock plate. Make sure lock plate goes on exactly how you took it off. You will destroy more than the lock plate compressing 180 degrees off.

Here is a secret that few know about these T&T columns! You use a 1" 5/16 x 18 cap screw from any hardware store which has an Allen head. You push the shaft to the bottom. Install your cap screw and tighten tight!

Now you use the compressor to tighten the lock plate down. Install your c lock making sure it is in all the way. Hopefully that plastic cover did not blow apart on you taking it off. You will see this part only fits one way. Push on. Remove cap bolt.

Now, if the tower broke when removing horn wire, I can give you a secret to repairing.

When you reinstall steering wheel make sure spring is straight and shaft id up. The spring sits on that plastic piece. Then sort of line up mark on wheel and shaft and try to get positioned without shaft going down. You can use the needle nose to align the two marks just to get your wheel on. Install nut and tighten. Install cap screw again, just to clean the threads.

If ypou have problems, call at 972-310-4750

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