12 volt steering column housing
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 145
Likes: 13
From: Athens AL
12 volt steering column housing
I swapped the steering column in my 1972 model from a straight column to a T&T. While reinstalling, I ran into something that I didn't fully understand. With the column NOT bolted to the firewall (just sitting the floorboard/seat), with the electrical connections plugged in, my voltmeter shows 12v on the column housing. Specifically, I took the black lead from my voltmeter and grounded it, then took the red lead from my voltmeter and touch the column... got 12v on the voltmeter display. Should the column have a 12v positive charge when it isn't grounded, or do I have a short that I am going to have to find and fix?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 145
Likes: 13
From: Athens AL
That's what I thought too, but I've had the column apart a couple of times and there are just no signs at all of a failure. Is there any effective way to test the turn signal switch to determine if it is bad (other than replacing the switch)? I figured I would start with it, since it's the first place in the chain where there are connections.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
That's what I thought too, but I've had the column apart a couple of times and there are just no signs at all of a failure. Is there any effective way to test the turn signal switch to determine if it is bad (other than replacing the switch)? I figured I would start with it, since it's the first place in the chain where there are connections.
Without a good ground present there can be all kinds of erroneous signals found on the car. The meters (especially the digital ones) can show voltages that have virtually no (well, very little) current available as they try to find their own path to ground.
Not saying you don't have a short but before you spend time chasing it....
M
Last edited by Mooser; Apr 7, 2014 at 10:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 145
Likes: 13
From: Athens AL
Jim Shea pretty much nailed the problem. My replacement column has a missing Horn Contact Retainer, which insulates the telescoping spring from the steering wheel lock plate. Without it in place, current flows right into the lock plate and the rest of the mechanical parts of the column. Thanks Jim.
