It took my husband and I together to get the steering column cover back on. Since I have smaller hands I could just barely reach in and get the bottom piece to go into the rubber collar piece. It also took us about 10 minutes to get the top and bottom hard plastic covers to click together. He would try for a bit then I would take over. It's very frustrating since it looks like it should just go back together easily.

 

Thank you for sharing your experience.

I will try again to snap together the pieces, when I get around to it.


Jamie

 

Well considering the sudden increase in this switch failure, I'm bookmarking this thread.

 

Same problem, 07 C6 w/181k miles.

Has anyone with a non-telescoping steering wheel replaced this switch without removing the steering wheel? Is there enough clearance to get the covers off with a fixed wheel that can't be "pulled" to full extension?

Also, if the steering wheel doesn't have to be removed, does the airbag still have to be disabled?

thanks,
jer

 

In answer to my questions...

Yes you can replace this switch with a manual (non-telescoping) steering wheel without taking the steering wheel off.

I just did.

Also, I took my chances and did not disable the SIR by disconnecting the battery per manual instruction because I wasn't removing the steering wheel...although I'm not sure this is safe. Maybe the airbag could deploy by making and breaking combo switch connections with hot elects...don't know but I was ok. No guarantee for your experience.

Note: Although I tried to "use a small screw driver and release the locking tab from the tilt wheel handle" per manual instructions, I couldn't figure where this locking tab was or how to pull the handle out. But when I removed the knee bolster and the instrument panel bolster bracket I was able to twist the lower column trim panel off the tilt wheel handle still installed. Without damage. So you don't have to remove the tilt handle if you can't do it.

Nice to have a blinker that works w/o blinding the driver in front. Or flashing them with on and off brights as you try to finesse the switch into the low beam position. Dealer quoted $400 for the job so saving about $360 w/ a couple hours of work.

Trust me, unless you experience this switch failure, you won't know how annoying it is. Think driving at night and unintentionally flashing your brights to the driver ahead just trying to signal a lane change. They think you're annoyed or alerting or just being an a**hole.

Think signaling left lane change because a cop pulled someone over on the right. Instead you turn on your brights. And then flash him on and off because you're just trying to turn your brights off.

Not cool! I've done both with this bullsh*t combo switch failure.

And this is a common failure mode with the switch as it has been for a long time. I'm pretty sure this switch is also used on gm cars other than the corvette. GM needs to fix this with their supplier.

Maybe (long past) time for a better design??

jer

 

Mine has been doing this and it's VERY annoying!
Thanks for the info, will order the part now!!!

 

I have the same problem on my 07. Will order this part, but for the meantime, to disable hi beams, I pulled fuses 23 and 24 out of the engine fuse box.

 

Finally replaced my switch. It is tedious and I cannot get my 2 steering pieces to snap back together, and stay together for the life of me but at least I'm not high beaming people anymore.

 

A word of caution to anyone contemplating this: if the internal fusebox wire for the low-beam circuit (no. 1970) happens to fracture, which has happened to so many of us that the NHTSA is looking into it - both low beams will go out when the car warms up. If you already pulled the high beam fuses, they won't be available as a backup, so remember where the fog light switch is.

 

I recently encountered the same problem with the high beams coming on when activating the right hand turn signal. I found the correct OEM switch on Amazon for $30.00 and replaced it myself last week. It took about an hour. Everything went back together just fine. Problem solved.

 

Thanks for posting this!

Mine just started doing this 2 months ago, and is getting worse. Will be attempting the posted instructions.

 

Ok!

So, this seemed all simple, especially since the part was only $30 on Amazon (prime woo).

I followed the instructions, except there were a few details left out that I had to venture out to find...

1) Disconnect your car battery first.

2) You will need to remove (gently) the airbag center piece out of the steering wheel (Youtube I found of someone doing this in a 1m 27sec timeframe: )

3) Dettach the airbag wires (pop the small plastic pieces upwards then pull off the wires).

4) Then be like "OMG the airbag on the vette is so cool, this looks like a superman symbol!".

Now here's where I screwed up, I was told to remove the WHOLE steering wheel. I do not have a 21mm socket wrench (HUGE).

Solution:

5) There's a tiny hole (big enough to get a flat head screwdriver) which sees through directly to the star screw where your blinker is that you need to remove). I was able to unscrew this screw, and then unscrew the one from the top, and remove the left steering switch (blinker/headlights).

Once you get it off there, it might be nice to clean up a little bit, maybe some compressed air, it probably has all sorts of nasty stuff in it.

Take your time when you are working with the harness. I did NOT have to remove the entire harness. Once I got the blinker off the column and unplugged, it was easy as putting the new one back on and reassemble the steering column WITHOUT taking the whole wheel off.

Hope this helped someone

 

One more thing, the plastic pieces that go around the steering wheel are a huge pain in the a**, but if you work it long enough you can get them back on.

For a bit mine were a bit crooked, but I was able to get them back to normal. This will be 90% of the time you spend on this project unfortunately. Chevrolet didn't plan on anyone removing these parts, I'm guessing they thought the vehicle would last the full lifetime of the car, as is most of the other inconvenient parts placed throughout the car like the oil sensor -.-

Good luck, and thanks for starting this thread!

 

Hey guys, Im having the same problem in my c6 Z06. Do you think its the same part number as the base model?

 

Yes, same part.

 

Thank God for this post I have not been able to find a relevant post and I am tired of blinding people. I had an 08' Base and just order ACDelco D6384D off Amazon as my multifunction switch is on the left of my steering wheel. It sounds like I should first, extend my telescopic steering wheel to full extension, second disconnect the battery, and then follow the instructions that AZ posted. I have no desire to take off my steering wheel or disconnect my airbag. PLEASE let me know if that is ok as I will not be replacing the switch until Saturday.

 

I replaced mine a year or so ago without removing the airbag or steering wheel. Getting at the rear-facing screw takes a bit of creativity (a small bent-screwdriver works) but it was a 15-minute job beginning to end.

 

What you need to do with the covers is work with them on the top and the bottom. First line them up in the back. They will snap together after that.

 

That smallest connector that terminates the wire coming from the multi-switch is not easy to get to or disconnect. I am thinking of using a needle nose vice grip to hold it in place while reconnecting the new one.

 

Hey y'all!

Quick question on this topic: I have a 2006 C6 with the telescopic steering wheel, and need to replace this lever because I'm flashing drivers at night when I use the turn signal.

I see conflicting information in this thread and another thread as to whether I can get the cheaper part # D6244E or whether I need the more expensive D6384D because of the telescopic wheel.

I do not have rear fog lights (I don't think), since I'm in Los Angeles and not Europe. Anyone know for sure if the cheaper one will work fine or not?