Mark:

Letting the dealer rape you is almost always a bad idea... Ouch!!!

Not sure what year Vangon you're talking about here, but I've removed the
mechanism from 3 different air-cooled vans, and it's really not too hard.
Didn't need a puller either.  Once you remove the clamping bolts (first
the steering wheel, turn signal switch, etc.) I've found the housing will
slide off pretty readily, maybe with some gentle round-and-round tapping
with a small hammer.

The only "hint" I can offer is to make sure you put the key in the
ignition to unlock the steering wheel locking mechanism.

On Thu, 29 Oct 1998, Mark Gajewski wrote:

> Does anyone have any experience in removing the igniton key/steering
> wheel lock mechanism.  Is a special pulling tool really necessary?  I
> need to change the electrical switch and am wondering if I should buy
> the $25 part and try it myself, or should I let the dealer rape me.  Or
> would I not be ahead after buying special puller etc. anyway?

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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