Why must my tilt/tele be "down" to start car?
04-19-2004, 11:40 AM
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Why must my tilt/tele be "down" to start car?
OK, my latest anti-theft device, my car will not turn over with the tilt steering wheel "up". When I put it "down", she cranks. What is going on??
04-19-2004, 12:43 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Re: Why must my tilt/tele be "down" to start car? (Jeff 6T9)
Sounds like the electrical switch down low on the column is mis-adjusted or loose. Other than that, look at Jim Shea's papers on the tilt column for more info.
[Modified by markdtn, 11:55 AM 4/19/2004]
[Modified by markdtn, 11:55 AM 4/19/2004]
04-19-2004, 06:45 PM
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Re: Why must my tilt/tele be "down" to start car? (markdtn)
Run this quick check. Disconnect your battery. Remove the plastic panel from below your steering column. There is a rod extending down from the steering column head to the ignition switch. Tilt your column all the way DOWN. Rotate your ignition key to START. The rod should move up into your column head and pull the ignition switch into START. Now tilt the column to the MIDDLE and then all the way UP. Rotate your key to START. Does the rod move?
If the rod does not move in any position except full DOWN, I suspect the following:
There is a small die cast rack inside your steering column head. When you put your key in the lock cylinder and rotate to start, there is a small nylon gear that meshes with the rack. The rack moves and pulls on a rod that is connected to your ignition switch down under the dash. The ignition switch rod has a brass piece that engages a fan shaped section of the rack.
The fan shaped section is what allows you to tilt your column, yet remain engaged to the ignition switch rod and be able to actuate your ignition switch regardless of tilt position. My guess is that your die cast rack may be broken. There may be just a section of the fan that remains engaged only in the full DOWN position. That is why you may only be able to pull on the ignition switch in the tilt DOWN position only.
The rack is available from several Corvette suppliers. The bad news is that you will have to disassemble the steering column head to get at it. For the most part, it will be easier to work on the column if you first remove it from the car.
You can go to http://www.corvettefaq.com and look in the Steering section. Download my Tilt & Telescoping Column 69-82 Disassembly & Repair Papers #1, #2, & #3 as well as T&T Column 69-82 D&R Pics #1, #2, & #3. They go into great detail on repairing your column. There are also blowup drawings as well as steering wheel and horn parts scans at that sight.
If you find that the rod is moving with the column tilted UP as well as DOWN. Then the column action seems normal and there is the possiblilty that the switch might need adjusting.
Good luck,
If the rod does not move in any position except full DOWN, I suspect the following:
There is a small die cast rack inside your steering column head. When you put your key in the lock cylinder and rotate to start, there is a small nylon gear that meshes with the rack. The rack moves and pulls on a rod that is connected to your ignition switch down under the dash. The ignition switch rod has a brass piece that engages a fan shaped section of the rack.
The fan shaped section is what allows you to tilt your column, yet remain engaged to the ignition switch rod and be able to actuate your ignition switch regardless of tilt position. My guess is that your die cast rack may be broken. There may be just a section of the fan that remains engaged only in the full DOWN position. That is why you may only be able to pull on the ignition switch in the tilt DOWN position only.
The rack is available from several Corvette suppliers. The bad news is that you will have to disassemble the steering column head to get at it. For the most part, it will be easier to work on the column if you first remove it from the car.
You can go to http://www.corvettefaq.com and look in the Steering section. Download my Tilt & Telescoping Column 69-82 Disassembly & Repair Papers #1, #2, & #3 as well as T&T Column 69-82 D&R Pics #1, #2, & #3. They go into great detail on repairing your column. There are also blowup drawings as well as steering wheel and horn parts scans at that sight.
If you find that the rod is moving with the column tilted UP as well as DOWN. Then the column action seems normal and there is the possiblilty that the switch might need adjusting.
Good luck,
04-20-2004, 10:07 AM
#6
Race Director
Re: Why must my tilt/tele be "down" to start car? (Jim Shea)
Run this quick check. Disconnect your battery. Remove the plastic panel from below your steering column. There is a rod extending down from the steering column head to the ignition switch. Tilt your column all the way DOWN. Rotate your ignition key to START. The rod should move up into your column head and pull the ignition switch into START. Now tilt the column to the MIDDLE and then all the way UP. Rotate your key to START. Does the rod move?
If the rod does not move in any position except full DOWN, I suspect the following:
There is a small die cast rack inside your steering column head. When you put your key in the lock cylinder and rotate to start, there is a small nylon gear that meshes with the rack. The rack moves and pulls on a rod that is connected to your ignition switch down under the dash. The ignition switch rod has a brass piece that engages a fan shaped section of the rack.
The fan shaped section is what allows you to tilt your column, yet remain engaged to the ignition switch rod and be able to actuate your ignition switch regardless of tilt position. My guess is that your die cast rack may be broken. There may be just a section of the fan that remains engaged only in the full DOWN position. That is why you may only be able to pull on the ignition switch in the tilt DOWN position only.
The rack is available from several Corvette suppliers. The bad news is that you will have to disassemble the steering column head to get at it. For the most part, it will be easier to work on the column if you first remove it from the car.
You can go to http://www.corvettefaq.com and look in the Steering section. Download my Tilt & Telescoping Column 69-82 Disassembly & Repair Papers #1, #2, & #3 as well as T&T Column 69-82 D&R Pics #1, #2, & #3. They go into great detail on repairing your column. There are also blowup drawings as well as steering wheel and horn parts scans at that sight.
If you find that the rod is moving with the column tilted UP as well as DOWN. Then the column action seems normal and there is the possiblilty that the switch might need adjusting.
Good luck,
If the rod does not move in any position except full DOWN, I suspect the following:
There is a small die cast rack inside your steering column head. When you put your key in the lock cylinder and rotate to start, there is a small nylon gear that meshes with the rack. The rack moves and pulls on a rod that is connected to your ignition switch down under the dash. The ignition switch rod has a brass piece that engages a fan shaped section of the rack.
The fan shaped section is what allows you to tilt your column, yet remain engaged to the ignition switch rod and be able to actuate your ignition switch regardless of tilt position. My guess is that your die cast rack may be broken. There may be just a section of the fan that remains engaged only in the full DOWN position. That is why you may only be able to pull on the ignition switch in the tilt DOWN position only.
The rack is available from several Corvette suppliers. The bad news is that you will have to disassemble the steering column head to get at it. For the most part, it will be easier to work on the column if you first remove it from the car.
You can go to http://www.corvettefaq.com and look in the Steering section. Download my Tilt & Telescoping Column 69-82 Disassembly & Repair Papers #1, #2, & #3 as well as T&T Column 69-82 D&R Pics #1, #2, & #3. They go into great detail on repairing your column. There are also blowup drawings as well as steering wheel and horn parts scans at that sight.
If you find that the rod is moving with the column tilted UP as well as DOWN. Then the column action seems normal and there is the possiblilty that the switch might need adjusting.
Good luck,
04-20-2004, 12:41 PM
#8
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Re: Why must my tilt/tele be "down" to start car? (gliot1)
You mean an electrical short inside the ignition switch? There are no ignition or starter related wires up inside the steering column. Since there should be no motion of the ignition switch rod when you tilt the column head up and down, I don't see where a short in the switch would be affected by the tilt position.
