Well, Dan, I'm going to recommend you do, because here's what happened when I did:

After I pulled the switch I pushed in the actuating rod to simulate what might occur if the switch jammed. The rod clicked and stayed in. I could not insert the key past the cover flap over the slot.

Now, this unit I'm playing with was under water, so it has mud in pretty much every unsealed cavity, and I figure that's what got it stuck in. I could not extract the rod by grabbing it with small flat-nosed pliers, so I laid the key against the slot cover flap, and whacked it with the pliers I had in my hand. No go.

Instead of a key, I used an 1/8" screwdriver at the slot cover, and again whacked it, with only the small pair of pliers as an impact tool. The rod popped out and I could again insert the key, and now, the spring inside the lock would consistently return the rod to its extended position. IOW, it wouldn't stick the slot cover closed any longer.

End result is I think you won't have to remove the steering column, but just the switch. I hope so, anyway.






--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Three men were sentenced to be executed by guillotine; a priest, a Muslim, and an engineer.

first was the priest and he asked that he face upwards so he could look at Heaven and his Creator. his wish was granted and the blade fell, but stopped 1/2 inch from his neck. the executioner said since the guillotine spared him, so was his life and he was allowed to leave.

next was the Muslim and he asked that he also be allowed to face upwards to look to Allah before his death. again the guillotine stopped just short and his life was spared as well.

the engineer was last and he too asked to face upwards given what happened with the first two. as he lay there, he looked up at the mechanism and said, "Aha, i see the problem!".