Quote:
Originally Posted by catmandoo62
boy you can sure tell you guys have never worked on a GM column.after removing the steering wheel you will need a special tool to depress the spring on the lock plate,this is the plate right under the wheel and it has notches all the way around it.once depressed you have to fish a c clip out from around the steering shaft(this can be a pain in the ass and take some time and patience)once removed,pull the plastic trim from under the column and reach up under the dash along the column on the right side and push the turn signal harness up and free from it's tangs.then you can pull the turn sig switch up but beings it has a tilt wheel you will have to take the tang with a roller on the end off the switch(when you get here if you flip the turn sig lever back and forth you will see the tang i am talking about and you will also have to take the 4 way flasher knob off.then you can pull up on the turn sig switch enough to fish the screw out.i have had literally thousands of these apart.also if your tilt mechanism is loose let me know and i'll tell you a way to tighten it up without pullong the whole column apart.
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The plate can be a pain, but you don't need the special tool if you have strong hands. I did this exact job last summer when I borrowed an old blazer from a friend and the lock cylinder failed. I did exactly what I posted, I bought the switch at autozone (curiously the black cylinder was $1 more than the chrome...), rented the puller and had the job done in about forty minutes. It took longer to drive to and from autozone than it did to effect the repair.
But you raise a valid point, I believe autozone has the tool for the plate and you can rent that at the same time. It does make it easier.
Of course, other parts stores have a tool rental program, but I know autozone does, which is why I suggested them.