Steering Column Question

[1995Z/28]

OKAY. im officially in a pickle. I drove the Camaro to work today. I went out to go home for lunch, put the key in the ignition, and NOTHING! I cant turn the key. it will turn just far enough to unlock the wheel but not 1 RCH further. I had to have my wife come pick me up, take me home to get the pontiac, and drive back. a couple of things worth mentioning...the column has a "springy" feeling in the tilt mechanism in the left to right direction, the lock cylinder appears to have more in and out play than normal (almost like the whole lock cyl. wants to come out of the column) and the last couple of days when i go to start the car, i turn the key all the way foreward to the "START" pos. it does nothing, I let the key rotate back about 1/32" and it cranks and starts. any insight guys? ive been inside of a steering column before, but that was A LONG time ago and it was an older, non-airbag, IROC. are the columns the same? and is there any tips on how to get the thing unlocked at least once so i can get it started and get it home to work on it?

[nascarnate326]

OKAY. im officially in a pickle. I drove the Camaro to work today. I went out to go home for lunch, put the key in the ignition, and NOTHING! I cant turn the key. it will turn just far enough to unlock the wheel but not 1 RCH further. I had to have my wife come pick me up, take me home to get the pontiac, and drive back. a couple of things worth mentioning...the column has a "springy" feeling in the tilt mechanism in the left to right direction, the lock cylinder appears to have more in and out play than normal (almost like the whole lock cyl. wants to come out of the column) and the last couple of days when i go to start the car, i turn the key all the way foreward to the "START" pos. it does nothing, I let the key rotate back about 1/32" and it cranks and starts. any insight guys? ive been inside of a steering column before, but that was A LONG time ago and it was an older, non-airbag, IROC. are the columns the same? and is there any tips on how to get the thing unlocked at least once so i can get it started and get it home to work on it?

I believe the VATS system is different, thought I dont know if its in the keyswitch or in the computer part of it. I would be willing to bet its in the computer part (BCM)

I see you have a 95 without a BCM so I guess I dont know

[98blackbeauty]

It sounds like you have a bad ignition switch. The vats unit is up along side air vent towards the middle of the car on the passenger side. Go to shbox.com and do the vats bypass then you can concentrat on the igition itself. its 2 orange wires at the base of steering column.

[1995Z/28]

well, here is the latest, I went out at break time yesterday and decided to try it again. I eventually decided F*** it! and i forced the key to turn, it finally "popped"and turned and the dash lights came on and the fuel pump energized, but it wouldnt crank, after a little fumbling and wiggling of the keyi cranked and started, then died. I turned the key again and had no dash lights or anything and i kept jiggling the key and ignition and it started cranking and after about 3 seconds of cranking it fired up and stayed running, i decided to take it straight home. i got home and shut it off and now the key still turnes and i can get it to start but it isnt acting "right".

[BAMF TA]

I wouldn't waste your time with VATS, I had that issue with my car, when I put it back together... I forgot to ground the BCM and it wouldn't allow it to start (What kept me from coming to the 2010 MIFbody meet, after staying up all night... GRRR) The SECURITY light would flash... PITA, not easy to get around, it seems like it must just be the ingnition cylinder. I would swap that out (<<<making it sound easy, but I have never done it so, idk..) best of luck

[1995Z/28]

ive "watched" one be swapped out of my old camaros' column when the car got stolen and i had to fix the column after getting it back. but that was an older (1987) column. i dont know if they are the same or not, they "appear" to be the same, short of the air bag, but those cars didnt have the VATS either so i dont know if the columns are different internally or not? I plan on bypassing the VATS while its apart just to save headache on down the road and if i ever need another key made and dont feel like going to the dealer. the lock cylinder is only about 38 dollars from advance auto parts. Im wondering if it is just everything is loose inthere versus anything actually being broken.. If I could just find a whole column, id almost rather just change it out., i dunno what would be more work? fixing the one in there or just replacing the whole thing?