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Cadillac Repair/caddy deville vacuum park brake release

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Expert: - 1/6/2012


Question
Hi. Saw your response to a gent with same problem I have. So I think you know your beans here. The parking brake vacuum release switch on the steering column of my 1993 caddy deville is bad. I somehow got the old switch out by a lot of prying. Got a new switch. However, I CANNOT get the new switch back in! No way, no how. It wants to cock and bind.

I'm thinking about removing the top instrument panel pad, or dropping the steering column. But I'm sure there is a recommended method of replacing that switch! I do have a FSM, but nowhere does it address R&R for that switch!

Thanks for your help.

Joe

Answer
Well Joe,

You might have dealt with someone else on this issue. I have never seen a bad one, so no, I never changed one myself, however I have rebuilt thousands of those steering columns, so I can assist you in the removal of the steering column. You did not state the year, but I will assume FWD.

Don't screw with removing the dash!

Remove the black plastic hush panel under the driver's side dash. Remove the knee bolster (dash panel under steering column. Should pop off and a steel plate behind it with 4 10 mm head bolts. Remove the clip for shift indicator at lower part of steering column shift bowl. Remove the two 13mm or 15 mm head bolts.

Under the dash farther back will be two mm or 13 mm or 15 mm head bolts. The steering wheel will drop to the seat and in full tilted up position will lower the column more.

Now, the vacuum switch may have a tang coming out of it that fits inside the shift tume in the steering column. Neutral switch is set up this way and I believe vacuum switch is the same. If there is a tang, you need to line it up in the steering column shift tube slot. You may have to block the wheels and shift the trans lever to drive before the vacuum switch goes in.
If I remember correctly, the brake released when put in drive.
Try that. Let me know if I am correct on that.I believe I am.

Once you get this installed reverse putting back together. You are best off putting the lower column bolts in first and that will line you up for the front mounting bolts.

As for the shift cable, put in neutral and install clip in N position after you have tightened the 4 mounting bolts. Put in park and shift to drive to make sure shift indicator lines up. Put the rest of the stuff together and check your brake.

Get back to me.

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Rob Painter

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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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