As previously stated, the slide hammer should be the last resort. I don't know the intricate details of how the Alfa switch and column fit together but I once owned a 1970 BMW 2002. A recovered theft. The little delinquents used a slide hammer and it did get the switch out but it also fractured off about a quarter to a third of the aluminum housing around the switch. It required a new steering column to fit a new swich into.
The car came with the bottom part of the lock mechanism glued to a piece of tubing with a knob on the other end. Slide it down the hole and turn to start. Put it back in and turn to shut it off. Of course this may have been mentioned already but make sure the wheel is turned so that no ratational force is working against turning the key. Good Luck, Wayne -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
