Can anyone give me a way to do this without going to a locksmith. At this point if i can get a screwdriver to move the actuator, that would be great, i just don't want to damage the rest of the column. Anything will help! Will chevy have a universal key?

It's a '91 manual column.

 

Okay u are going to have to pull the steering wheel and assemble apart and put a new lock and cylinder. but i strongly advise getting a steering wheel puller that u can get at autozone to rent and a retainer spring decompress if thats the name can't remember. thats the only way i would think of doing w/o messing up the steering wheel column. its not a hard job just be careful not to lose pieces.

 

the car is vats,why are you changing the lock cylinder even if you get to the actuator it won't start unless vats was bypassed
luke

 

He did what i did. i took a 1990 steering column and put it in my 86 camaro. Which vats doesn't hook up at all. B/c the later models didnt' have it. and he has a 84 camaro if i am not mistaken by his name. thats how he did it. he just lost the key which it will cost quite a bit to get a key with chip since they will not do it w/o chip. so what i am telling you 84red. just change the lock and cylinder and you will be fine.

 

I am not very knowledgeable about this but the po of my car put in a push button starter. Its just a thought. Not my preference but it was already there. Its hardly noticeable.

 

Alright, sorry for the vagueness, lol.

I am putting this in my '88 Firebird, wanted a '91 column because of the air bag coil because i want to use early 4th gen radio controls, and i have the entire column apart, but to get the lock cylinder out, i need to turn it to the on position to get it to slide out. I've already used the steering wheel puller and the lock spring tool to get all the way in there, just need to change the cylinder. And I am getting a new lock cylinder, yes because the yard i got the column from couldn't find the key, plus my car is a manual, and i found a manual column (no difference after 91 other than cylinder), so i want that manual button on the ignition cylinder for safety purposes. VATS will not be hooked up at this time, but in the future i may take that journey so i won't be cutting any wiring.

 

Noone has ever done this themselves? Everyone goes to a locksmith?!

 

Get the steering wheel puller!

I had to do this on my bird and it is pretty much straight forward and easy.

Pull steering wheel
Disassemble the column down to the lock cylinder
Remove the screws holding it in and slide it out
Now reverse the process

Don't loose any parts and watch out for the retainer ring because sometimes they like to go airborne.

 

I already had the whole wheel apart, but couldn't get the ignition out because in all the instructions i read, you need to turn the ignition to the on position to get it to come out. I figured it out w/out the key though. Thanks!!!!

 

NM

 

How did you manage to do it without the key? I've got the same problem and I'm trying to replace my ignition cylinder in my 84 camaro. I assume they are the same.

 

you do noyt need the key, ive done thins MULTIPLE times. remove the wheel, remove the locking ring and lock plate, remove the 3 phillips head screws for your turn signal cam, remove the plastic contact for the horn, remove the retainer screw for the ignition cylinder, reove ignition cylinder, reverse procedure to install

 

I agree.

I have done this TWICE without having the key for the ignition, they were automatic cars, though, if that makes a difference.

 

The stealership may not cut keys for a VATS car without the chip, but ACE Hardware will cut whatever you want.

 

you dont need the key to remove the cylinder

literally been here done this probably 75 times since 1994 maybe more times even.

also, only one screw holds the cylinder in place

almost always it is a torx head screw pin

 

hey guys i have a 91 camaro an i cant get passed this little black plate that sits on top of the horn piece. it is locked in with a little circle ring does any one have a clue how i get it out.

 

Parts store. Get a lock plate compressor to hold down the spring while you get the ring out. Same thing to get it back on.

 

The plastic plate is just a dust cover. There are three slots on the edge of the dust cover, two narrow and one wide. The two narrow slots provide a flat screwdriver's head access to the inner metal catches that hold the plastic cover on. On each of the narrow slots, carefully wedge the screwdriver head between the top of the metal catch and the plastic hold down and gently the plastic hold down upward off of its metal catch. This will free up two edges of the dust cover. The dust cover can then be lifted up toward the large slot and simply lifted off the metal catch in the large slot. Piece of cake. Installation is even easier. Just insert the wide side plastic hold down over the wide metal catch and then snap the dust cover into place taking care to line up the two narrow plastic hold downs on the other side to their respective metal catches. No sweat. Just don't try to pry the dust cover off from the sides....it will tear then good luck finding a replacement. Eyeball those three corner slots and the removal/installation is intuititve.

 

how were u able to turn the ignition w/o the key?

 

Ace doesn't have blanks for VATS cars and even if they did, they would need the original to copy or how could they cut a key.
If you search on eBay you can buy blanks but without the original??
I caught someone breaking into my car and, he tried to start it with a screwdriver. He was caught but my ignition switch was damaged to the point the key wouldn't fit. My auto electric guy replaced it and the VATS module for $160.