I can't figure out how to turn on the high beams on the car! I've looked in the owner's manual but obviously not hard enough. I have tried pushing and pulling the turn signal but didn't want to go too far and bust the thing.

 

Should be as simple as pulling the turn signal towards you. It is a pretty rough switch though - definitely not from the Honda/Toyota parts bin.

 

It feels a bit flimsy. Do they tend to break?

 

I've never broken oneand I've had 3 GM cars with the same high beam switch. They do feel like crappy plastic though. Pulling it toward you should just turn the high beam on, but as stated above, it has a pretty hard click for the detent. I like it tho, my brother's *** cars switches barely have a click, the high beams just come on as the stalk moves back. If you really think it is about to break, have someone else who owns a Corvette try it. Just track someone down at a light or a parking lot and ask. Corvette guys and gals love ot talk about their cars, I've asked lots of other Corvette owners questions in some odd places.

 

I appreciate it! :)

 

I have the same problem.
According to a previous post ("High beam!!!") and the Chevy dealer,
the Pivot Point on the Steering Wheel Stalk is damaged such that the turn signal/high beam lever can't be pulled back far enough to trip the switch.
According to the dealer this is because drivers hang onto the steering wheel when climbing in and out (well, duh!)
Interestingly, mine's a 93 and most of the posts with this problem are 93's.
Solution: taking the steering wheel off and replacing the Pivot Point (i.e. the tilt steering wheel assembly. $900 is the dealer quote!)
*Update*
Apparently, the two pins that the tilt steering wheel assembly rides (tilts) on become worn when you lean/pull on them to get in or out.
According to a dealer tech, this was a flawed design with both C3's and C4's that got fixed with the C5.
To determine if the switch or tilt steering wheel assembly is at fault, (with the car stationary and the headlights on) set the steering wheel tilt to the upper-most setting then lightly pull the turn signal lever (lightly) backwards while tugging the steering wheel downward.
If the highbeams come on, the tilt assembly is shot.
I know because that's the case with mine. Although I could gimp by, I 'm going to have it fixed to prevent any other problems and and have the switch itself replaced while they're in there as a point of preventive maintenance.

[Modified by Prince_Chowmein, 2:29 PM 11/7/2001]


[Modified by Prince_Chowmein, 7:54 PM 11/7/2001]

 

Had the same problem on my 93, would not pass the state inspection. Had I location vette shop change the switch for $134. The shop tech. stated that these switch failure are pretty common on the GM cars. :D

 

Here's another 93 with the same problem. My headlights have been stuck on high beam since I bought the car. I thought it was just a bad dimmer switch. I just went out and tried the dimmer switch while putting downward pressure on the steering wheel, as outlined in Prince Chowmein's post. It works.

I have about 1/2 inch 'play' in the steering column, when pushing downward firmly.

$900 for a fix? :cry

 

Mines also a 93, mines getting fixed at this moment. :confused:

 

Do they replace the entire steering column, or just parts? How much did it cost?

I suppose the airbag makes this a not a do-it-yourself job job.

 

\

I had just the switch change out ($22), labor around a hundred. But I figure I came out ahead, since the air bag is over a grand and did not want to screw that up. It was a great vette shop here in Lafayette. They had to pull the steering wheel... :eek: I am happy with the result... :D :D :D

 

'Got the '93 Coupe back today (1-day repair.)

Parts delivery lead time: 3-4 business days. (Truck delivery from Lansing, MI.)

Service: "R&R COLUMN REPLACED LOWER COLUMN SUPPORT & UPPER TILT HOUSING."

Final Cost for Dealer Repair:

Qty P/N Part Name Part Cost
1 26010580 F-Support A 70.75
1 26017735 Housing A 453.60
1 26059718 Spring Ki 29.65

Misc. Charge: Shop Materials/Haz Waste for Repair order: $10.00

Labor: 257.50

Sales Tax: 44.32

Total Cost: 865.82

But the headlight switch works great now and the steering wheel sits higher than it did and the instruments are easier to see!

 

Thanks for the info.

Ouch! This is probably what I need. The wheel and column do not appear to be out of place. But when I put downward pressure on the wheel (as in using the wheel to assist in getting out of the car) the wheel/column moves down about 1/2 inch.

Has anybody out there done this repair themselves? I wouldn't think it would be too difficult, but removing the airbag makes me kind of nervous.

 

Removing the airbag has always seemed kind of hazardous.

I haven't done it. I've got the loose tilt wheel right now myself. Service Tech said it must have been from the previous owner yanking the release lever and just letting the column bounce up "ThoinnnGGgg!" with no control. He said he never knows what will fix it until he gets the wheel and collar off. Sometimes it's just three bolts that need loctite and a tighten, sometimes there are broken pieces in there.

Airbag can has to be isolated from all sources of energy. Pull the fuse, disconnect the battery, ground the car, turn the ignition switch to 'run' and turn the radio dial on to try to dump the capacitors, and then let the car sit for a while. Then put on an anti-static strap and go to it. According to the manual, that is. I still don't feel like dealing with it.

My turn signal/stalk feels like a flimsy plastic piece of crap and I know I'm going to break it. I just lost the 'up' detent for the right turn signal, have to hold the lever up for right turns. Every time I need the high beams, the little plastic cover behind the stalk pops off and falls away.

C4s are abusive relationships. :D :D

 

I have the same problem with my 93 vert. If I have the wheel in the driving position I like, the bright lights switch won't click on. But if I move the wheel up a bit, then pull the lever back, the brights will click on. To me it would be worth fixin if it were to cost around $150.00, but for $800.00, I will live with it.

 

I think I have this flimsy collumn thing but do the high beams actually make a big difference? I love driving a night its my favorite and the normal headlights are pretty bad for back roads, do highbeams light up the road way better??

 

Wow. A 12 year old thread.
The moderators will close this one. Open a new thread as someone has developed a cure for the floppy steering column in the last 12 years. And if you want lights that let you see at night contact JW and get his HID projector lights. I did. They definitely light up the road.

 

Oh wow I didn't even realize that. Thanks for the info but I have determined that the rod is bent -_- I might have to take your advice on those lights haha.

 

My 93 has the same problem to get high beams i just push down a little on the wheel. Its on my list to fix!

 

Pulling the Air Bag is not a hard job at all. But getting into the steering column once that is done is a PITA. You need a gear puller of just the right size. I have this same problem on 2 of my 3 90's GM cars, just not on the Vette. I did fix it on my 93 F body race car as losing steering at speed in a turn didn't sound like fun and I had to lose the air bag anyhow (as well as the ABS), so getting into the column was easier. I did have a well equipped shop pull the column however.

It apparently is one of two small pins inside the steering column and when the wheels are used as a crutch to get in and out of the car it is easy to break one.

On the C4s I have owned I have developed a technique of getting in by sitting in the seat and swiveling my legs under the wheel. Getting out I hook my bent right arm up over the outside of the windshield to boost myself out. As I age it is a bit more of a deal to get in and out however.



Enjoy,