stuck on high beams 94 apv

This is making us crazy. My headlights on this van (which I hate anyway!) are stuck on high beams. Actually they aren't stuck completely... sometimes for no apparent reason the headlights just go off altogether. The signal wand no longer clicks into position for high beams, but if you keep yanking the wand towards you, they'll come back (on high). I'm sure this is not good for it! There are no bulbs burnt out or anything, and we figure we need to replace the switch, but of course the car has an airbag, and it looks like you need to take the steering wheel off to remove the switch. Is that the case? I mean, the guys who stole the car a couple years ago seemed to have no trouble loosening up the switch when they cracked the steering column-- the whole signal wand was hanging down by the wires when the car was found...
I don't know what to do, except not drive at night anymore... Is this a wiring problem or mechanical (due to the non-clicking situation). Anyone ever replaced a post 93 signal/wiper/washer/high beam wand? (Anyone have any idea what was so bad about having the high beam switch on the floor and why they decided to put everything they possibly could on one single wand out of the steering column????)
thanks for any help!