Does my SW2 really need a new steering column?

Hi all,

My Saturn SW2 station wagon was stolen, but I got it back,
but the ignition was totally removed.

When I got it to the mechanic, I was told that not only do I
have to replace the ignition, but the whole steering
column. The vinyl covering of the steering column
had been taken apart, it;s true, but the mechanic
said that when they do this, you have to replace
the whole column, and that the gears had been broken.

I don't know what gears he meant. I had to get help to get
the car started with a screwdriver, but after that it drove
just fine. The mechanic did not even look at the steering
column, at its mechanical condition, I mean. He just saw
that the covering had been pried apart and pronounced
that the whole column had to be replaced. I tend to think
he could have looked at it a little more carefully before making
that judgement.

My b/f has been to this place before, and considers them good,
(although he does't know much about car repair), but on the
expensive side.

The guy is charging us $475.00 for a re-built steering column!
He also proclaimed that a new one from the dealer would cost $1500.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Tracy

 

My guess would be you need a new lock cylinder and housing. It's not a hard
thing to replace, even easier since your lock cylinder is already missing
(thats not meant as a joke). who ever stole it, probably broke the housing
while removing the cylinder. But if they damaged anything on the column,
near the cylinder and housing, then yeah, you'll have to replace it all. try
taking it to a different shop to get an 2nd opinion.
so in short, the whole column probably does not have to be replaced.

hope that helps

Jeremiah

 

U may be better off just letting a Saturn dealer repair it. I had to replace
the housing and tumbler in mine, the parts are very inexpensive, just labor
intensive. I did it myself. Actually it was pretty easy once I did the job. It
is the unknown that is scary.

James

 

Yes i agree, if your not very hands on with auto repair, i would take it to
a dealer, or 3rd party shop if it's cheaper. after all, we all know what
happens when the aitbag goes off....right? Or if someone in the group is
available in your area, maybe for a free lunch could do it.

good luck with it.

Jeremiah

 

If you have a digital camera and could link a picture I could tell you for
sure. Depending on how the ignition cylinder was ripped out will determine how
much was damaged. Usually it would be the upper and lower plastic shrouds (
cheap) , the ignition lock cylinder and the ignition lock cylinder
housing/collar. Not to hard of a job to do. Sometimes you could get a used
column pretty cheap and install that .

 

Hi,

Yes, the shoruds had been pulled apart, and the ignition removed, but
after it was started, it worked fine. I tend to doubt it really
needed the whole steering column replaced. What a scam.

thanks everybody. Unfortunately I could not get the car out of there
before the part came and the work done. The part came a day earleir
than he said it would. The mechanic was on the belligerent end of the
spectrum. Now I am reporting him to Consumer Affairs and the Better
Business Bureau. Yes, from now on I will go to the dealer.

I still would like to post some digital photos, though - of the old
steering column.

He claimed that he put a "re-built" steering column unit in there,
but it came straight from the junkyard. It didn't even have an airbag
on it. I know this because he took the airbag off my old one.
Also, the ignition works, but part of the plastic covering has a piece
missing. what a piece of junk. I will take pictures of this stuff,
for Consumer Affairs.

So, I already placed my complaint to Consumer Affairs about his
refusal to be specific about exaclty what parts were installed.
(he tried to convince me that he saved me a bunch of money
because I would not have to buy an airbag new).

So, I have a question: Do Salvage yards actually "re-build"
parts? I thougt "re-built" parts had to go to a factory somewhere,
to get worked on, but I'm seeing web sites for auto salvage yards
that sell "re-built" parts.

well, I guess it's obvious that it was not rebuilt, since it did not
even come with an airbag.

tracy

 

If he pulled it from a junk yard, chances are the airbag had deployed in an
accident.
As for junk yard, no, they don't rebuild parts. A junkyard, basically you
can go and pull a part that you need from a car that has been wrecked. Yes,
a rebuilt part has to be certified by the manufacture.
However, the air bag does not come with the colume, it might come with a new
steering wheel, but probibly seperate piece from the dealer all together.
My question to you, did you sign anything? I'm not 100% sure about every
state, but generally, you have to give a shop permission, ie sign a piece of
paper, to work on your car. If you didn't, you have a much better case
against them.
Would still like to see pictures of the damaged pieces.
good luck with the bbb and Consumer Affairs

Jeremiah

 

yes, he admitted to me that it came from a car that had been in an
accident. So that would be consistent with my old steering column
unit not having the air bag in it any more. What a bad liar.

Thank you!

yes, I did. They always have you sign that you agree to it beforeyou
leave your car with any mechanic. Are there any states where this is
not done?

here it is. I just could not get the close-ups into focus.
I may just go put some film in my 35mm camera and set
it to macro so I can get some decent closeup photos.


I took a picture of the old steering column unit without the
air bag, and the cruise control unit ( side and back) .
This mechanic claimed that the cruise control unit was
broken, and needed to be replaced. It was not broken.

Last is the ignition that that the mechanic installed.

http://tmiller4.photosite.com/Album2/

thanks,

tracy

 

yes, he admitted to me that it came from a car that had been in an

Your better off for having your original airbag anyway ...I wouldnt want a used
one. The problem you could run into with used steering columns ( and this is
not to say it will be the case for you ) is that the column itself is
sometimes considered a airbag system part . Sometimes they collapse ( a safety
feature ) and will have a lot of play in them. The way to check is to grab the
wheel and pull it towards your chest .

Junkyards, or salvage yards/recycling yards as they prefer to be called
nowadays, dont rebuild the columns. They are just unbolted from the car and
sold.

The cruise is controled from a box mounted under the dash . The only part that
is part of the column is the switch and wiring ( if I recall correctly ) .

It sucks when mechanics take advantage of people. SOmetimes they do it on
purpose and sometimes they do it out of pure ignorance as they dont know how to
accurately diagnose a problem or a need.