Hey OBS 7.3 fiends, I mean friends,

Been a long time, but up until last night I've been truckin' happily. If you can call commute/work/commute/eat/sleep/repeat happy...Anyways:

It would appear my actuator, or the pin between it and the tumbler has broken. Ignition is stuck "on". Removed the tumbler, it seems fine.

Even if I had the slightly desire to rip apart the entire steering column to "properly" replace the actuator, and trust me I have no such desire, I would never trust the flimsy design in the future.

I've found various threads and diagrams of the tumbler and the actuator, but never any detail about what the actuator is actuating.

Is there some magical switch I can reach without breaking down the steering column?

Even if there is some magical switch (that which is actuated by the actuator), is it easier to find a wiring junction and tie my toggle switch(es) and push button there?

I have no problem with wiring or determining the logic needed to control acc/off/on/start.

I have the shop manual on ancient CD-ROM, but I have no idea where to find detailed diagrams of the actuator, and what it actuates. I can find the tumbler in the steering column under the steering section...

I've seen "black box" wiring diagrams of the whatever the actuator is actuating, so wiring my own switches will be easy, if I can just find the best (easiest to physically reach) entry point.

edit: I'll also need to be sure the steering wheel lock won't engage on me at some inopportune moment. If the lock cylinder is pulled, is that enough to ensure that?

TIA,
Marc

 

Found the actual actuated switch easy enough, and at the same time learned the relationship between the steering wheel lock and the actuator. Now to come up with something cool to replace the wretched thing with, and make sure the lock can't engage accidentally.

I can now blissfully continue my life with never having dismantled a steering column.