Question About Steering Column

[korbendallas68]

Ok, if was to put the getrag 282 into the old Grand Am, should I swap out the AT steering column for the MT column?

[Anonymous]

What's different in the column?

[Guest]

If I were doing this, and there was an MT column available, I would.

Jon, the difference is the key lock out, so that you can't accidentily turn the car off and lock the steering wheel while driving, at least not without trying.

[korbendallas68]

That's what I thought. I can get one for like $50 at the scrapyard. I don't think it would affect the PCM would it?

[Anonymous]

You mean the little tab you press to turn it off? Why don't the autos have it?

[korbendallas68]

I think its because you don't stall a car when taking off with an auto trans. So when you restart your car with an manual, you don't lock the wheel when re-starting. Am I correct?

[Guest]

Kinda, but if you stall your car on a regular bassis, you shouldn't be driving.

It's more in teh event if something were to go wrong, say the throttle stuck open, you should reach down and shut the engine off, if it is safe to, then steer to the side of the road, or an engine fire etc, in a panic, you would most likly turn the key all the way back and lock the steering, but with the tab release it prevents this from happening or at least is supposed to.

[korbendallas68]

Well that makes sense. I found a couple of MT from some 93 Beretta's with 3.1's in my area for about $300. I believe that that is the trans I'm looking for right?

[Anonymous]

Kinda, but if you stall your car on a regular bassis, you shouldn't be driving.

It's more in teh event if something were to go wrong, say the throttle stuck open, you should reach down and shut the engine off, if it is safe to, then steer to the side of the road, or an engine fire etc, in a panic, you would most likly turn the key all the way back and lock the steering, but with the tab release it prevents this from happening or at least is supposed to.

So why would the slushbox models not have that?

And not like it'd do any good in a situation like the above, unless the key got snagged on something and somehow turned itself... I've gotten in the habit of automatically putting a finger on that lever when I turn the car off.

[Guest]

Yeah ridge, I have that habit too.

Ok, next time your in an auto, try and shut the car off BEFORE placing the tranny in park.

[Rhedalert]

Ok, next time your in an auto, try and shut the car off BEFORE placing the tranny in park.

w00t!

[robby1870]

Yeah ridge, I have that habit too.

Ok, next time your in an auto, try and shut the car off BEFORE placing the tranny in park.

You can turn it off while not in park, you just cant get the key out

[jmgtp]

That button doesn't do diddly in my grand prix, I don't have to push it to remove the key, must have broken sometime before I bought it. The one in my beretta I have to push to remove the key though. hmmfff

o and on the same note... i actually tested this out in a parking lot one time. I sped up to about 15 mph, turned the engine off and removed the key, still moving mind you, then proceded to turn the wheel (easy cause powerassist still works so long as the engine is spinning - manual trans left in gear) and the wheel did not lock. However, when stopped the wheel did lock. Weird. Then again maybe it only locks in one direction and by chance I turned the other direction?

[korbendallas68]

Ok, what applications does the 282 come out of?

[Guest]

Yeah ridge, I have that habit too.

Ok, next time your in an auto, try and shut the car off BEFORE placing the tranny in park.

You can turn it off while not in park, you just cant get the key out

Exactly.