Took apart the steering column to replace the turn signal switch which had a broken wire and probably caused my horn problems but now i have another problem.

In the course of pulling the switch out, I knocked the High beam lever innards out of position so now they don't work. And I can't figure out from all the diagrams, I've got how it all fits together. Anybody have any picks of how it's supposed to look inside the column? The one's from corvettefaq are useless for this. I already looked at them and the detail level for this just ain't there.

 

I have an assembly manual (not to be confused with a Haynes or Chiltons or anything else in a skinny book ...). What exactly are you trying to figure out? What's not working?

 

When I pull back on the turn signal lever to turn on the brights I get nothing. It's like a linkage is not connected someplace. But looking at the parts I have to go in that area...I just don't see it. I'm talking about the internal to the steering column on the left side right in front of the tilt lever.

Thanks...

Dawg

 

I need to do this job myself in the near future on my '76. Unfortunately, I can't help with your problem, but I was wondering whether you had any suggestions or things to watch out for when replacing the turn signal switch. I'm a bit nervous about opening up the steering column and never being able to get everything back together!

 

PortDawg,
I'm sorry that my paper(s) haven't been of much help. I can't find any documentation as to making the assembly of the dimmer pivot and the attachment of the actuator rod to the end cap. Since I own a 1975 (dimmer switch on the floor) I can't help with pictures of my own. I am sure that your problem is that somehow, your dimmer actuator rod has become disconnected from the pivot. The following is the explanation from my 3rd paper. I am not sure where you are with respect to your disassembly of your steering column.

Here is the explanation:
Assemble the plastic dimmer rod actuator to the end cap using some heavy grease. The actuator is guided between the end cap and the metal housing and is retained during assembly by the grease on the little square post inside the cap. Without the grease, the actuator is very difficult to hold in place while reassembling the column because the wire rod isn’t exactly tightly fixed in position.

Assemble the cover with three screws. Seat the screw at the 12 o’clock position first. Tighten the three screws to 100 in-lbs. Screw in the tilt lever. Install the housing cover end cap (with the actuator in place) . Verify that the dimmer switch functions (the rod can become disengaged from the switch) before continuing the rest of the column reassembly.

I hope that this helps.
Jim

 

Vette Gator,
I assume that you have a T&T column. Replacing your turn signal switch is not too difficult. I think that the hardest part is getting the switch wires up and out of the steering column. If you remove the plastic electrical connector from the switch wires and you don't mind working with your head stuffed under the dash, you can replace the switch without dropping and removing the steering column from the car. (I personally think it is still easier to remove the column from the car to do this type of work.)

The following papers and pics are very complete with respect to working on your steering column. You probably already know that your steering wheel, telescope lock hardware, and your horn mechanism is unique to 1976 only. Here are the links for the 1976 T&T column:

http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/T&T76S...&HornParts.doc
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/T&TColumnD&R102JN05.doc
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/T&TColumnD&R226NO04.doc
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/T&TDis...age122MY05.doc
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/StrgCo...llationPic.doc

I realize that the above links make for a lot of reading. I wish that I could make them shorter but the locking steering column is rather complex. Also, it is designed to be theft resistant. This also makes it somewhat more difficult to service.

Good luck,
Jim

 

Jim,

Thanks very much for your very thorough explanations! The complexity of the steering column is the reason that my new turn signal switch is still draped over the column instead of being put where it belongs :o

 

Saginaw Steering Gear Division was pretty good at stuffing 10 lbs of sh*t in a 5 lb bag. They really have some ingenious things inside that steering column. One that comes to mind is the spring that engages the lock bolt as well as the plastic sector gear.

Jim

 

Let me know if Jim's response left anything to be desired. Otherwise, I can find the sheet from that page and scan it or something. Or you could try and catch me on-line tonight on whatever instant messanger I have listed in my profile.

 

Hang upside down and find the switch on the lower part of the column. When I reassembled mine I left the metal rod out of the little hole in the switch if it isn't in there it won't work. Just put it back in and reassemble the column.

 

I've got the metal rod...and there is a plastic slide piece that I'm trying to sort out...and oh, what hole...

Jim S - Hope you weren't offended, that's not how it was meant...When I pulled the turn indicator cover off the tilt switch cover fell off... I hadn't planned on pulling it off...

Oh Well...

 

Place the plastic slide piece onto the turn signal lever cap. It should fit on a plastic square peg on the cap. Use heavy grease or petroleum jelly to hold it in place when you snap the cap back into place. Then install the rod and try your dimmers to make sure that it is working before you button things up.

 

There is my question...

Where do I install the rod ?? I've figured out the plastic piece slidey thing.... Where does the rod fit in, it's just kind slopping around right now...

 

ttt

 

I think that there is a hole in the support for the dimmer rod to pass through. The curved end of the rod should just match up to the curved surface on the actuator. The straight end just inserts into a molded hole in the dimmer switch.

The actuator just pushes the rod down toward the dash and depresses the dimmer switch plunger. There just aren't any good pictures or descriptions of this installation.

Please let me know if this helps.

Jim

 

I think I'm screwed up on the straight end. Must have disconnected it by accident. The curved end matches up. Also, The other end of the plastic thingee doesn't seem like it touches or can the turn signal lever. Am I missing something?

You're helping more than you can imagine...this is good stuff.

Dawg