OK, so the other day my steering column started smoking (obviusly something shorted out. Now sometimes when I turn my steering whell the horn will honk and/or it blows the radio fuse. I can get the steering wheel off but I don't know how to take off the steel plate underneath that locks the steering wheel with the ignition off. It looks like it has a snap ring but it's embedded to where I can't see how it could come off. Please help! TIA.

OK, I think I figured out where the shorting problem is coming from. When I was driving to work this morning, I was making a right turn and my turn signal lever wouldn't lock (has happened once or twice before) so I had to hold it. When I then made a left turn, the lever made a rackety sound and now I hear a detent ball rolling aroung inside the column. I still have the underlying problem that I don't know how to get into the damn column! If anybody can point me in the right direction to get into the column I would greatly appreciate it. TIA

You will need a lock plate compressing tool or some one who can push the plate down this may work the tool is the best way that way no one gets poked with the pick while you remove the snap ring a small 90 degree pick and/or a small screw driver to remove it once you are that far if I remember right you will be looking at the switch for the turn signals

Got it! Thanks for your help Gilligan. I made a tool to compress the lock plate and before I even got inside I could see a metal ring just dangling loose inside. I originally had the steering wheel with radio controls which I have long since done away with. Once I got the lock plate off I took the yellow plastic contact plate off for the horn and radio controls, deep sixed the loose metal ring and one radio contact pin that had a broken housing and put it all back together. Everything works again and I'm not blowing fuses and inadvertantly honking the horn! Thanks again little buddy!