20002 Saturn SL, replaced steering column. How do I...

I recently had my engine replaced in my 2002 grand marquis 4.6 with a 2009 crown Vic 5.4 engine and was running fine until I broke my ignition and tried to replace it myself I bought a new ignition switch didn't work so I bought a steering column and still won't start what do I do

It's connected to the turn signal stem, inside the steering column. It comes with a new turn signal stalk, so the steering wheel has to come off. It's easy, make sure you disconnect the battery, so the airbag will be disarmed. Any shade tree mechanic can do this in about an hour.

Replace steering colium 2005 saturan ion

Hello there, here are a few tips to guide you through.

• Disconnect the negative battery connection cable from the battery terminal. Remove both the upper and lower steering column covers by either unscrewing them or unclipping them, depending on your car make and model. You may need to use a small pry bar to remove the upper and lower steering column covers, if so, use caution and take your time, you don't want to shatter or crack the plastic covers.
• Remove the steering wheel cover and unscrew the steering wheel from the steering column, there should be six bolts securing it in place. Pull the steering wheel off the shaft slightly and make a mark on both the steering wheel and the shaft to make it easier to line up during the reassembly process. Disconnect the horn wire from the steering wheel by pulling on the boot --- not the wire itself --- to avoid any damage. Pull the steering wheel straight back and remove it entirely from the assembly.
• Remove the spacer sleeve off the steering column. Remove the large center nut and washer from the steering column that secures the steering wheel adapter in place. Don't remove the steering wheel adapter until you have made a mark on it and the shaft so that you can properly realign them when reassembling. Gently remove the adapter by pulling straight back on it and set it aside.
• Remove the three screws securing the stock in position. Remove the screws securing the plastic casing around the stock and take the casing off. Carefully pull the stock away from the steering column and gently guide the wires out until they have cleared the steering column, revealing the ignition switch assembly. You don't have to remove the wires from the stock; it's light enough to hang by the wires and not cause damage. Just pull out enough so that it's out of the way. In some cases, the stock will come apart in two pieces. If that's the case, slide off the first piece of the stock and unscrew the second piece, which is usually the piece that connects to your signal switch. Pull it off and bring it together with the first piece of the stock.
• Remove the small plastic spacer collar around the steering column by gently prying it back inch by inch. Remove the Allen head bolt located on the underside of the steering column and pull back the assembly with the ignition switch. Unplug the wires from the back of the ignition switch and pull it away from the steering column.
• Insert your key into the ignition and turn it to the locked position. Unscrew the small Phillips screw securing the ignition switch in the ignition switch assembly and slide it out. Put your new ignition switch into the ignition switch assembly and reassemble the entire steering system in the reverse order. Some ignition switch models will require you to depress a retaining pin with a small screwdriver while the key is in the locked position to remove it from the assembly. If your ignition switch is not secured with a small Phillips screw, look for the retaining pin.

Best of luck.

You know I just had a chevy dealer tell me they could replace the lock cylinder and ignition switch in my girlfriend's 99SW for 88 dollars in half a day. 3 months later they had changed the lock cylinder and it cost 155 dollars. they had to send it out to saturn to get the keys to match, and they told me that the steering column would have to come out in order to replace the switch as it is put in with tamper proof hardware which needs to be drilled out. as yet it is not done.

it is not really hard but make sure the ignition switch and security system will still work if you relplace it, if it has a security light in the dash when you open the door, it is harder, if it doesn't then you can do it...
remove all bottom plastic panels, all wiring connections, disconnect the yoke on the engine side of the compartment on the bottom, there are two or 4 big screws holding the column up, loosen them from the bottom, and follow steps, make sure battery is disconnected and air bag fuse is removed...this is just a general instruction.

***As per Haynes Manual for your Vehicle*** Warning: if your vehicle is equipped with a suplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system, always disengage airbags before working in the vicinity of the sterring wheel to avoid accidental deployment of airbags.
1. disconnect the negative cable at the battery
2. Remove the steering wheel if it interferes with the access to the steering column covers on your vehicle. Remove the steering column covers.
3. Unplug the wires from the ignition switch, remove bolts and lift the switch off the steering column.
4. Installation os the reverse of removal.

Hope this Helps! I have a an illustration and it looks that the switch is on the left side of the steering column. If you need any information or help removing the Steering wheel or steering column covers let me know! Good Luck.

You put the key into the lock cylinder, the lock cylinder is directly attached to the ignition switch. Both are inside the plastic boot around steering column.

Well, if your wheels are turned to one side it may just be that you have to put a lot of pressure on the steering wheel, which in turn puts a lot of pressure on the ignition lock, making it seem like your steering column is locked. You will have to take the pressure off of the ign lock so you can turn the key. I am talking about some serious pressure. Ask someone you know that is a "bigger person" to turn the wheel while you turn the key from the passengers side.

Time to take apart the steering column.

Mine is a little older than yours. But if they are at all similar this will be easier than you think.

You'll need to remove the two piece steering column shroud (just behind the steering wheel). Screws located underneath. You may have to jockey with the column tilt and be a bit of a contortionist, but don't get frustrated. Just getting the bottom off should be enough.

On the left side, directly opposite the ignition, you’ll see a piece of round plastic held on with two bolts. This is really the ignition switch.
Take out the bolts ( 7 or 8mm).
Take out the two plugs (blue and white) from behind it.
Take off the switch.

Hope this helped.
Mike