I'm thinking about purchasing my dad's 2003 Suburban 1500 2WD. Times were tough on us and then his fuel pump went out on it. He parked it in the lot of his friend's father's apartment complex for about a year and a half now. Sometime during that span, someone broke into it and tried to steal it. They chiseled through the ignition, mangling the cylinder and the housing (I'm assuming it's called). We discovered this when we were about to change the fuel pump. So basically those two need to be replaced it, on top of the fuel pump. Tired of watching it sit and having no use for it, he'd rather sell it as is than try to fix it and sell it. I've decided to be the buyer IF I can get it running again.

So, we got the fuel pump waiting to be put in, but first we want to make sure we get the ignition sorted out. 1st question, how hard is it to replace the cylinder and cylinder housing? Will this require removing the steering wheel? 2nd question, I understand that the security system will laugh when the install is complete, is there a way to bypass this? If not, is there a procedure to get it back to normal or will I have to get hosed by a dealer?

Obviously when all this gets sorted out, I will be changing fluids and hand cranking the motor before starting it. I feel sorry for this truck and want to get it running again. Plus, I need a second set of wheels (tired of sharing my car with my girlfriend).

Thanks in advance.

 

Well you are in luck, removing the lock cylinder(Part that those thieves messed up) is pretty easy to remove. You just disable the SIR (supplemental inflatable restraint) , remove the steering column trim, then push the lock cylinder retaining pin and then the lock cylinder should just come out.

Im not too sure about the security system though..

Good luck.

 

Well we finally got the pump swapped, onto the ignition. We ran into this after pulling the steering wheel off. The black plastic gear looking thing is blocking the torx screws needed to remove the housing and we can't figure out how to remove it.

 

You should only have to unscrew the 2 screws that are holding the turnsignal switch on and what looks like the one on the side.

 

I wish it was that easy.

I discovered that I am going to need a lock plate compressor to free up a little ring at the bottom of the shaft. Hopefully I can find one and get those damn screws exposed. Will any old parts store "universal" tool of that kind work, or are these year specific?

Also, I was told that I will need to dispose of said ring. Are they available at any parts store or will I have to order them through a dealer?