rookie.. coming along though....eplaced alot of basic seven problems.. but got broken into.. they destroyed my ignition and column lock... found them at the junkyard...do i need a special tool to remove it ,, or do i need to replace the whole column... Blakj
Thanks peps.....

 

well if you don;t want to deal with aheving to drill out the rivets that hold the Ignition switch onto the column.Really it would take you just as long to Pop the old steering column out and replace it with the new one..and that would give you an Extra door key(as the Ignition now is different from the door key..New ignition,new key)..so really it's Six of one and a half a dozen of the other..Jut make sure that you put the Wheels Straight before you change the column out..It makes it easier to lin e up.The Shaft has an indent for the bolt,so it is kind of foolproof Not to align it correctly.It should be pretty close when the new column goes in..Hope that helps.

 

The ignition switch is not held on with rivets, those are special screws designed to install once and not be removed by thieves.
Sometimes a punch and hammer will get them spinning out, sometimes you have to drill them.
In either case, they can be replaced with a standard metric screw to reinstall.

I'd just replace the ignition unit, not the whole column.

I'd also take the opportunity to remove the other three locks on the car (two doors and hatch) and go to a locksmith and have them all rebuilt to use the same key. Not only will the locks work crisply but you'll have a new "master" key- much better/more accurate for making copies.
When I bought my car I did just this.
Total cost for the four cylinders, a master key (which I have stored with the title) and two copies was @$75.

 

Thanks A TON GUYS.....always cool and helpful...people should get paid on here...

 

If you have a Dremel motor, you can cut a slot in the heads of the screws. Then, with the instrument cluster/steering wheel removed, just screw the screws out. Or, like mentioned, you MIGHT get a small punch or chisel and hammer, and unscrew 'em using that. Once loosened, you can screw 'em out with your fingers.

Screw heads are on the top, not the bottom.

 

thats what i did. took about 5 minutes.