2001 F150 Steering Column Failure
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2001 F150 Steering Column Failure
My 2001 F150 w/50,000 mi failed to start. No response when turning ignition key, but dashboard lights remained on. Battery/starter, etc OK. Problem diagnosed as broken part in steering column. Repair shop stated they have seen this a half dozen times...mainly 99-03 Ford trucks and Explorers. Total bill..$650 Anyone else had this problem?
Last edited by wally101; Nov 5, 2008 at 10:15 PM. Reason: additional info
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Welcome to FTE wally101! 
That sounds a bit high to me, especially not knowing what the repair shop is calling broken. I certainly have not had any such problems with my truck. Good luck! 
That sounds a bit high to me, especially not knowing what the repair shop is calling broken. I certainly have not had any such problems with my truck. Good luck!
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The broken part was an actuator and ignition rod assembly. Nothing to do with any anti-theft device. Bill was approximately $300 for a steering column, plus a couple of hours of labor to replace, including reinstalling my old key cylinder into the "new" column.
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From: Lawton, Oklahoma
Appearantly that wasnt a dealer if they replaced the whole column. The plastic actuator costs about 13.00 and takes maybe 3 hours to remove the column, dismantle and reassemble. A lot of private repair shops dont have a clue how to fix it, so they just replace the column. If it was a dealer they have some splainin to do.
Steve, your 89 is entirely different, but still it is a replacable part.
Steve, your 89 is entirely different, but still it is a replacable part.
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As it was explained to me, it is less expensive for the shop to merely replace the column with a used unit than take apart the old one given what labor rates are here in the Bay Area. I doubt that the dealer could do it for less by taking apart the old column since their labor rates are even higher than the independent shop who, as I mentioned, already had experience with the same problem half a dozen times.
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From: Lawton, Oklahoma
It is possible to find a used column cheaper, but how long will the troublesome actuator last in the replacement. If it lasts years down the road it was cheaper. If it fails in less than a year you are screwed. Used parts are definitely a coin toss.
In my shop it would have been 300.00 or less and you get a brand new actuator. In your area maybe more?
In my shop it would have been 300.00 or less and you get a brand new actuator. In your area maybe more?
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