It fell out from under my dash yesterday.. and now my car won't start.





BTW sorry about the grainy pictures, I'll try to get some with my brother's cellphone, it's probably newer technology.

 

Sorry brotha, too hard to tell exactly what it is or looks like.

 

Ok.. here's a pic with my brother's camera.



I took my column apart a little while ago to tighten the 4 torx bolts.

 

It kind of looks like part of the turn signal lever, but it works fine.

 

It almost looks like the shape of the wire conduit that comes up through the steering column. Maybe its some sort of a retainer for that?

 

Maybe, it's only about half the width though of the wire harness

 

Try the electronics section of the board.

 

Try ALL the accessories/controls on the steering column. Horn, Flasher (both sides), Flasher Auto Release, Hazards, Igition {On,Start,Accessory}, Tilt, Horn, Wipers (all positions + washer), high-beams, etc....

You might find something that doesn't feel right.

What's the fuzz stuck on it? It might be a clue.

Ooops... Just read "Now, car won't start". Can you elaborate? Does the key work in Acc, Off, On, when put into Start does it feel right?

Did it stop starting after you found the part or did you find the part first?

 

That is from somewhere out of the upper steering column, but I'll be damned if I can remember what exactly it's for.

-edit-

I'm pretty sure it's part of your key buzzer switch assembly

-/edit-

-B

 

yeah, its part of the turn signal return mechanism( I think). You have to take the wheel off, then the column interlock, then it slides down on a plastic piece on the shaft. Its been awhile since I took one apart, so I forget the exact function of it, but i know its deep down in the head of the column. I had to take it out to remove the lock cylinder. I also don't remember if you definitely need it, but my guess would say yes.

Hope that helps?

 

Thanks, yea.. I guess I'll be taking the column apart, at least now I can do it fairly quickly.

 

here ya' go - look at #16. Wrong year but should be the same part:

http://www.nastyz28.com/tech/e-steercol.html

-B

 

it's the key buzzer clip. i don't why the car wouldn't start with this part out. perhaps the vats wires are damaged? the column has been repaired before i suppose. take a good look the ign lock cylinder and the two white/orange wires that are coming out of it.

 

Mike89GTA.

What does your security light do when you turn the ignition from off to on? It should turn on for a couple seconds then go off. If its staying on or isn't going on at all, you probably have a VATS issue as mystikkal_69 suggested.

If you do, you might not even want to bother taking apart your steering column. Unless you REALLY want to verify that this is your problem. I did, and it was pointless. I still had to do a VATS bypass underneath the dash.

 

The security light comes on then goes off after a couple seconds. The check engine light comes on at the same time as the security light, however it blips for a split second and stays on. I'm pretty sure it's not the VATS since I already bypassed it and the security light doesn't come on.

 

At first glance it looked like the metal clip on the turn signal cam, but its not. Its (looks) like the peice that rides either above or behind the tumbler. I'd have to pull a diagram and double check its been awhile since I had to rip into a coulmb that deep. I'll see if I can dig it up but reguardless your going to have to pull it apart and see what else is broke anyway.

 

Yep, Its the spring for the rack&rod preload. Its not terribly deep in there but quite a few peices need to come out to replace it. Lets see if I can get this pic up.


Edit: well gotta figure this out. Not being able to post pics from this MOD sucks!

 

That's the spring from the key alarm switch. Looks like it broke ou of it's plastic housing.

 

http://www2.dealsonwheels.com/partsa...art_id/1170536

As above, ignore the listed application.


-B

 

OK, its not VATs then....... Just checking.