I'm in the Pensacola FL area, anyone know if a reputable
Vette shop in the area, that will pamper our babies???

I was wiping the dirt off the sidewalls waiting on him to fill
out the repair order. LOLOL

A ragged shop (Tau) isn't always a sign of less than work quality, though..

Leo has a new big a.s shop with like 15 bays, clean as a pin
and he also has to pay for it.... LOLOLOLOL

95 % chance its your lock cylinder.
the ignition switch is located down by the firewall and
could not hang up the show.
there could be a problem beyond the lock cylinder but within
the column?

if what you are saying is true ?
(watch out for a slander charge)
don't understand why you would ever forgive him.

really doesn't apply.

your discribed problem will not set off the air-bag. believe
it or not those are not easyto set off.

g'luck
--
"Key"

My '87 car had the same problem, I got the key out the first or
second time it happened, but finally the lock kept it..

 After you pull everything out of the way, cover, airbag, little
delicate horn contact parts, etc. (I never did a '96 car, but I own a
'95 so I know what you have)   you can then use a wheel puller too
remove the steering wheel in order to gain access to the lock, which
must be changed, you will need a new key too, I think it comes with
one.   I did this operation on my '87 car and I broke something off
the delicate horn contacts but was able to get by without replacement.
You wouldn't want to put the same lock back in, even if you got the
key out of it, it would just screw up again.  Difficulty level on this
job would be experienced only, some special tools needed.
Oh, yeah, if the wheel goes back on EXACTLY like it was, go to church
next Sunday.

Even worse that I imagined.....
BEWARE ROBERT TAU AUTOMOTIVE, PENSACOLA FL

They went joy riding and wrecked it!!! F**K Me!!
I called on the second day and was told Robert has left for the
weekend and was on a flight... rutroh.... OK went to pick it up
and they had it parked in a dirt pile..... COVERED with dirt....
I mean it looked like it had been offroading or mud bogging!!!!!

Walked up to it and the front end is smashed up and the spoiled
hanging........
Then the mechanic came out and tried to look surprised... I don't know
what happened....
ARRRRGHHH

They had parts still laying on the drivers seat with a greasy
bathtowel.. The drivers floor
was full of dirt leaves sticks..... greasy hand prints all over the
doors... the fuse panel still laying
in the passenger seat.. I went OFF when the mechanic tried to play
dumb.... I immediately
saw bits of chipped off paint laying on the ground and a couple small
broken bezel parts
in front of it and noticed the spoiler had been ripped half off and dirt
packed up into the radiator inlet.....
and the front license plate area cover smashed in and the bumper cover
all crushed, broken bezel
on the parking light..

Then I turned the key on and sure enough there was 2.7 miles on the trip
odometer, the radio
was tuned to a station, the seat had been moved up and the rear view
mirror had been lowered
(the mechanic was smaller than me). When I dropped it off I had to pull
the ECM fuse to shut down
the engine and disconnected the battery, plus the radio was off... This
resets the trip odometer, and
clears all the radio stations and defaults the radio to the low end of
the dial (with NO reception)...

Then the mechanic tried to snatch my keys out of the car...........

Bastards!!! I called the police and they came but has I figured since it
was on private property
they wouldn't even file a police report. I even asked the very curt cop
if he would file that there
are broken body parts and paint chips laying on the damn ground right in
front of the car!! Nope
he was kinda an a.s... I did get a "blue sheet" with a number on it from
his partner. FWIW.

Called my insurance and reported it and called the credit card company
to dispute the charges
(they never had me sign anything, including the mandatory check boxes on
the repair order
OR EVEN the credit card slip... PLUS to add insult to injury they sure
did charge me for the horn contact
they broke..... $300.00 charge for a dang lock cylinder replacment. ARRGGHH

It's gotta be the HotRod Karma Gods displeased with me taking something
I shoulda done myself
to someone else to do......... cuz I just didn't want to be bothered
with it at the moment...

Ric, are you a professional victim?  Dont' answer that please, I'm
sorry for your bad luck.  You do need to talk with an attorney, you
will probably find out that you can sue for damages which may include
your insurance deductible,  the cost of a NICE rental car, and loss of
"some value" of your Vette depending on how bad it is damaged.

Take pictures of your car right now, I mean right now,  go buy a
camera if you must.  Do it tonight if you have to.  Get the damages
documented before it is moved, washed, glued, fiberglassed, or painted
-  and get a shot of the odometer before it is reset.   Don't fool
around arguing   with the mechanics or owner of the shop, document
your damages FIRST, then let him know NOT to touch the car as you are
meeting with your insurance company and your lawyer right away.   GET
the KEY and KEEP IT.   DO NOT tell the guy who owns the shop that he
is going to fix your car, don't waste your breath on him.   You do not
want him to do anything to your car.    At least until you  speak with
your insurance company and your attorney.

The owner of the shop may just come right out and tell you to contact
his insurance agent and he will pay for all repairs at the shop of
your choice.   There maybe no argument at all.  Just a headache.
I hope it works out OK.

Recall what I said above, it's all about damages, that's what you can
sue for, damages, rental car, loss of use, loss of value,   etc.  You
have to have damages or there is no good  reason to sue.

Bones, Tallahassee
'95 LT1 coupe
'87 L98 coupe

Hopefully my insurance adjuster (USAA) will be by today
to check out the car. I haven't heard anything from Robert Tau
(that is a crummy move to me), so I'll probably have to take him to civil
court for the deductible. I don't think USAA will go after him for the
deductible.
I think that's the way it works.... I've seen many Judge Judy and
Marylin where
people are suing for deductibles.

Ric, did you ever determine exactly what happened to your car after
you dropped it off at Tau Automotive?  

Ric,
Sounds like it might work out.  Be cordial next time you speak to him.
He might pick up your 250 deductible and tear up your bill AND
apologize  if you go away, that is,  go away happy.  Then you could
just chaulk it up to a bad experience.

You know, you could get into a big deal where your lawyer can  depose
his mechanics and staff, depose him, find out who was driving or lying
about who was driving, all of that testimony would just make a jury
mad as hell.  When I was working for a car dealer many years ago we
were told from day one, never, ever,  let a customer take us to court
because there was NO WAY we could win.  You could discuss this with an
attorney for free.  You should do that.  Who knows, a sharp attorney
may demand 2 or 3 grand in punitive damages for beach of duty or
something or other.  
The Bone

Got the estimate from USAA yesterday,
$1500.00.
Refinish the clamshell, refinish the bumper cover, replace
the licenseplate insert panel, replace all three spoiler sections, replace
the windshield.

I'm going to get the bodyshop I choose to do the rear lower quarters
and the rocker panels also while everything is out and mixed.