Hey all I've been doing some research and am undecided on what to do for my xj. I have the notorious wobbly loose column. My turn signals do not work and I can start the car without putting the key in, which is pretty nerve racking. The brights/wipers work fine. I can't decide on tightening the two easy to get to torx and replace the turn signal setup or to just try and replace the entire column. There is a pick and pull nearby but I am unsure if I can get a decent column with a key ready to go. I am also on a pretty tight budget. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

I'd grab a good used one provided you can get it at a fair price, but that's me- I hate disassembling those things, especially when they get old worn and brittle.
Here's a good overview of the GM tilt column which you probably have:
http://www.elcaminocentral.com/showthread.php?t=27192

 

Yeah that's what Im leaning towards Ive heard too many bad things about taking all of it apart. Yeah I have that link but thanks for your input I appreciate it

 

There are four bolts the two easy ones, a not so easy one, and the gotta remove the upper column to get to one. You wouldn't realize how easy it is until you do it once, just gotta have the special pin tool to do it. If you can get to the third bolt most if not all of the problems will go away. The third bolt can be gotton to with a nut driver and short socket if I remember right?. Should be the bottom right or top left, the one you can't get to is the bottom left w/o pulling the upper column. Also for availability a Chevy column may work. The ones used early on are GM.

 

Thanks for the advice I think Im going to hit up p&p and see if anything looks good(column is only $44), if not I'm going to give it a go and try to tighten it...my only issue is I probably have to get a new ignition lock and turn signal switch, as well as rent the tools and get the right torx bit...so you see my dilemma