god i'm in a bad mood. i've read the threads on the subject and am not smart enough to absorb. first what i have learned. bad to have key not turn to #1 position. and the whole lock assembly is made up of three components. the tumbler - the item the key enters (?); the electrical switch; and lastly, the steering column lock. my question. can i remove a potentially failing steering column lock and toss it and not install a replacement. that would leave me with the tumbler and the switch /aka the item that has all the electrical connections. tumbler is cheap. switch too. comparitavely the steering column lock is pricy. would not be bothering you good people had i won the big game! thank you.