yel76low

So I pulled the steering column, and ended up with something coming out that I didn't know where it belongs. The first picture below shows me pointing to the side that was not connected to anything. Any thoughts?

Roco71

That's the transmission lock cable. It connects to a lever on the transmission that locks the steering wheel and transmission while in park with the key out.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...2-SR&CTitle=&#

Peterbuilt

You have an auto transmission?

yel76low

It's a manual car....................

(and always was, since it has a welded in crossmember.)

Roco71

Then its something like this one

Alan 71

Hi,
And this is the connection at the steering column end.
Regards,
Alan

yel76low

So I see the connection in this drawing - what is the purpose on a manual car?

MelWff

to lock the steering wheel when the car is in reverse and the key removed

Roco71

I believe it was a anti theft effort. The steering wheel locks and the transmission lock in park on a auto and in reverse in a manual. Alan has posted a excellent photo note the positions of the lever on the steering column if that lever does not have a cable holding it up and for some reason drops your steering will lock on you.

Alan 71

Hi,
R71 is right.
It's completly a mechanical action, and pretty much fool proof.
When you put the shifter in reverse the shifter arm moves the top of the reverse lever forward, which moves the cable in it's sleeve, which moves the lever on the column up, which allows you to take the key out of the ignition switch.
When the lever on the column is up the trans is in reverse and the ignition and steeering wheel are locked.
Regards,
Alan

AzMotorhead

Alaan I've got to ask is there any part of your car that you have not documented with photos?
Hats off to you for always having a good shot of anything thats asked

Roco71

And everything is perfect.

yel76low

So... shouldn't I have run into some issues by now since this has never been hooked up? Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious here.

Thanks for all the help, by the way!

Roco71

There was some talk about this a few months ago. I am sure that there are a lot of cars running around without the interlock cable. As a precaution one of the form members posted that he ran a large bolt with a hole drilled in the end of it through the bracket then a nut on top to hold it in the bracket and the pin on the lever through the hole in the bolt to hold the lever up. When you get the steering column back in place move the lever down. Now see if the steering wheel locks. Might make you think what could happen. The cables are only around $40-$45

Alan 71

Hi,
I'm pretty sure 'lever up' is what locks the steering wheel, and allows the key to be removed.
'Lever down' allows the steering wheel to turn.
Regards,
Alan

Roco71

Hey Alan
On my 71 the lever is up to get the key out the wheel will still turn until the ignition is in the lock position. With the lever down the key will not come out. When you took that photo was there a key in the ignition?
Scott

Alan 71

Hi Scott,
Yes, the key is out and the steering wheel is locked.
When you insert the key and turn it to on; you can move the shifter out of reverse, and turn the steering wheel.
I believe that's what the diagram you posted shows. If the shifter (in the drawing) is moved to reverse, the bottom of the reverse lever is pulled backwards; the upper part of the lever moves forward, and pushes the cable forward; which pushes the lever on the steering column up, locks the steering wheel and releases the key.
You can't move anything utill you put the key back in which unlocks the steerig wheel and allows you to move the shifter out of reverse.
?
Regards,
Alan

Roco71

Hey Alan,
Sorry for the confusion I was wrong about the steering wheel locking if the leaver is down. Up or down the lever itself does not lock the steering wheel. Down the key will not come out, up the key will come out but only when the steering wheel is locked. Does that sound right?
Scott

yel76low

This couldn't be using purely mechanical action from the shifter being in reverse to lock the steering wheel - if it did, you wouldn't be able to steer in reverse. Does the key lock the steering wheel some how? I can't seem to remember that at all.

Jim Shea

Think of it this way. With the lever UP, it opens a gate inside the column head and allows the ignition key to be rotated from OFF to OFF-LOCK and ACCESSORY. When you reach OFF-LOCK the bolt moves rearward and engages the toothed locking plate which locks the steering wheel.

One other thing, with the lever UP and the lock cylinder in OFF-LOCK, now the lever is locked in the UP position. So your manual trans is locked in REVERSE and your automatic is locked in PARK.

If the lever is DOWN (anywhere but full UP), the gate is closed and now when you try and rotate your ignition key, you will only be able to rotate your ignition key to the following positions: START, RUN, and engine OFF.

Hope that this helps,
Jim