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I located a short in the cruise control wiring (pink power wire) and want to take out the plastic wire retainer cover to get better access to it. I have tried to remove it short of brute force. I would think there is an easier way to do this so I am asking for recommendations. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
It is a 1996 Collectors Edition LT4 convertible. Bought it last year and going thru the whole car right now. Has 40,000 miles and was Chips Choice #91 at Corvettes at Carlisle in 1996. I have the event guide for that year with its picture and write up. It has signatures under the clamshell of Bill Miller, Elfi-Arkus Duntov, Mike Yeager and more. I communicated with Bill and stated I am going to Corvettes at Carlisle and he wants to see the car again. I want it looking and operating as like new. Here is a picture of the plastic piece(1 piece)
I have repaired/fixed the chimes, dash pad, HVAC controller, headlight gears and more. My son has a 1996 Collectors Edition LT4 coupe and we repaired oil leaks on oil pan timing chain cover valve covers and oil filter. This forum has been instrumental in completing all of this. Here I am stumped by a piece of plastic. As mentioned before any help would be appreciated.
That is a protector/conduit for the wiring up the column(directional wires etc.). Your problem is not the switch or switch vicinity that's accessible removing #'s 24 or 25 in this diagram? Cruise plugs into a connector at the wiper switch #23 this image, the dangler that's visible. It would be odd I'd think to have an issue in that protector/conduit.
*** 3F-4 in the FSM shows the cruise connections near the column shroud.
The short happens when the steering wheel is tilted down when the steering wheel is tilted up there is no short to ground. Removing the wire cover is so I can have easier access to the wire where the steering wheel pivots. The plastic piece goes close to the pivot point. I am thinking the wire shielding has worn away at the pivot point. With the cover gone I can pull the wire back fix the short and pull wire back in place.
The protector/conduit removal would involve starting at the top with steering wheel removal and working down the column. The protector/conduit is in the mast jacket of the column and also extends towards the top into the shroud. Have you actually removed #'s 24 & 25 to inspect?
I have removed #25 the cover and disconnected the wire connected to #24. I then disconnected the corresponding connector at the base of the steering wheel. The wires between both connectors are not connected to anything. I measured the resistance for the pink (power) wire to ground which should stay open which it was with the steering wheel tilted up. When I tilted the steering wheel down it went from infinite resistance to zero resistance. From this I am thinking the short is somewhere at the pivot point. From what you are stating I will have to take the steering wheel apart to get to the part of the wiring I may need repair which also means I will not have to mess with the cover. Well this will be a winter project.
This link will take you to a very good image of the '94 - '96 wiper/pivot/cruise and you can see the cruise connectors on the switch. If you believe your fault is the pink up and through the pivot you would need to likely do whatever is needed to remove the wiper/pivot/cruise out of the column. You could likely use it to determine if the fishing a wire is possible and from 'where to where'.
I appreciate all the comments. I have two ways to go. Try the wire fishing without taking the steering wheel apart. If that will not work take the steering wheel apart enough to fish a new wire or if the short is obvious and repairable then fix it. Thanks again. I will post what I did when it is repaired.
When you stated you removed the stalk what does that entail? Is it possible you could give me a little more detail? This gives me another repair option. Thank you in advance.
The turn signal lever, wiper controls (the "barrel' that turns and the 'wash' lever), and the cruise control switch and set button are all contained in what I call "the stalk". The whole thing pulls out of the switch itself with a bit of pull. I grasp it with 4 finger around the base, and 'lever' against the column with my thumb to apply outward pressure. The cruise control wires are delicate, you don't want to yank them out when the stalk comes loose. About 3-4 pounds of pull should do it. When you reinstall it, there is a tang that indexes into a slot in the switch, then give it a little push for the last 1/2" or so.
It's not fussy, but don't just yank on it. Use increasing pressure until it pops.
Along with the above, tie a leader to the end of the cruise connector before pulling the wire so you can pull the new one back in place. I think there may even be a small hole in the connector to facilitate this. Should take 5 minutes or less one you have the lower panel removed unless these columns are different from the variety of Saginaw columns I have worked on. No pulling wheel, etc.
Finally worked on repairing the short. Took the steering wheel off along with air bag controller. Used mechanics wire to fish new wire, soldered in new wire, used heat shrink wrap and reassembled. All good. Thanks everyone for all your help.
11-13-2023, 11:24 AM
Steering Column Wire Retainer Cover
