Tilt wheel problem

Trickytim444 · 12-13-2005, 12:03 PM

88 Comanche, 5spd, 4wd....My steering wheel has a decent amount of play in it, like up and down and side to side....are there any adjustments that can be made or is my whole steering column shot? Thanks

CanadianJeep86 · 12-13-2005, 04:27 PM

Thats a really good question, mine just started doing the same thing the other day, '89 XJ 4.0 auto, tomorrow is my day off so I'm gonna rip the column apart and see what I can find, I'll keep you posted...

Ed in North Ga · 12-13-2005, 06:06 PM

common problem- somewhat easy cure-

theres 3 bolts inside, way down deep, that need tightening- you can physically reach two, if you remove enough stuff.

pull the steering wheel (steering wheel puller, and an external snapring plier)
pull the combination switch-but unplug it from the lower column first-, pull the keycylinder, remember how the little wire bracket go`s that holds the key cylinder in (if you want key-on buzzer)- pull-GENTLY- the outside left cover of the column. The chunk around the turn signal stalk...FOCUS! you must remember how this go`s back together, or you`ll be spending an hour lineing it back up...hidden inside is the fulcrum for the flash to pass rod-

once all that crap is out of the way, look way down inside- at about 7 o`clock, and 5 o`clock theres two bolts- the one on the right side is an easy to get to one-- pull it completely out, and smother it with locktite BLUE- the other side is a pain in the rear- either manufacture/cheat/figure out some how to get that external torqx socket on the bolt and tighten it for all its worth without stripping it.
And no, Ive yet to find a single person whos ever gotton that third bolt. Ive never even seen it myself.

You only need one tight-the one with the locktite on it, and the problem will never return.

If you want further pics/ect- do a goolge search for "GM Column fix"- I cant find my link for it. but its fairly common-

CanadianJeep86 · 12-13-2005, 06:14 PM

with this all cure the problem I'm having with the high/low dimmer? I have to hold it to the steering wheel to keep my brights on, or I can hit it really hard towards the wheel and they stay on, but a real prick to turn back off when a car is coming......

Trickytim444 · 12-14-2005, 09:37 AM

thanks, i guess i know what im doing this weekend

Ed in North Ga · 12-14-2005, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianJeep86

with this all cure the problem I'm having with the high/low dimmer? I have to hold it to the steering wheel to keep my brights on, or I can hit it really hard towards the wheel and they stay on, but a real prick to turn back off when a car is coming......

probably- but more likely the switch itself is a hair out of adjustment.
the turn signal/flash to pass stalk moves a fulcrum inside the houseing-just under the steering wheel inside the plastic box on left-- the fulcrum is a halfmoon chunk of plastic with a recess in it that push`s the metal rod down- you pull the stalk back, the rod go`s down-- on the lower column under the dash, the rod hits the flash to pass button-its spring loaded, so everytime you push down, it clicks and push`s back up--

the easy check is to see if the actual switch on the lower column needs adjustment- yours would need to be moved "up"-BUT- dont move it beyond what the keyswitch needs or your vehicle wont start. Were talking very small adjust here.-- the hard check involves pulling the steering wheel and associated wiring/combo switch/ect, and removeing that leftside plastic cover to make sure the rod is actually in its recess, and the fulcrum is in its square holding slot-

Ed in North Ga · 12-14-2005, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trickytim444

thanks, i guess i know what im doing this weekend

you will buy a steering wheel puller and a snapring remover(external with reverse ability)...or your gonna cuss for hours.

FYI- the easy way to reinstall the lockplate/snapring is to stand on the steeringwheel with your knees in your face and your butt against the headrest- that leaves your hands free to slide the snapring back over the slot to hold the spring/steeringwheel down-- trust me on this....OR go buy an expensive lockplate compression tool.

if you decide NOT to buy the necessary tools, please set up a video camera--

CanadianJeep86 · 12-15-2005, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed in North Ga

probably- but more likely the switch itself is a hair out of adjustment.
the turn signal/flash to pass stalk moves a fulcrum inside the houseing-just under the steering wheel inside the plastic box on left-- the fulcrum is a halfmoon chunk of plastic with a recess in it that push`s the metal rod down- you pull the stalk back, the rod go`s down-- on the lower column under the dash, the rod hits the flash to pass button-its spring loaded, so everytime you push down, it clicks and push`s back up--

the easy check is to see if the actual switch on the lower column needs adjustment- yours would need to be moved "up"-BUT- dont move it beyond what the keyswitch needs or your vehicle wont start. Were talking very small adjust here.-- the hard check involves pulling the steering wheel and associated wiring/combo switch/ect, and removeing that leftside plastic cover to make sure the rod is actually in its recess, and the fulcrum is in its square holding slot-

Wow, to hell with that, I'll just fix the tilt part and then put a toggle switch on the lights for high beam, lol.
I plan on putting driving lights on it within the next week or two anyways so I think I'll just wait and wire them both to the same switch.

Ed in North Ga · 12-15-2005, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianJeep86

Wow, to hell with that, I'll just fix the tilt part and then put a toggle switch on the lights for high beam, lol.
I plan on putting driving lights on it within the next week or two anyways so I think I'll just wait and wire them both to the same switch.

ok..so, you are going to fix the tilt, and not fix the lights...hmmmmm
ya know, if it were me...and I`m just talking here....If I were to go through all the trouble of fixing the tilt, I believe I`d go ahead and fix the lights...ya know, seeing how all the stuff is apart anyway and right there...sure would be easy.....

but hey, far be it from me to tell ya what to do....

think- to fix the tilt, you need to get through all that junk anyway. Along the way, you`ll fix the lights- or find out/rule out the problem is in the upper column.

CanadianJeep86 · 12-15-2005, 05:05 PM

Well I would fix the lights while I'm at it but I just really don't see the point when I planned on putting them on another switch anyways. Not everybody thinks like me, I like to be different, lol.

Ed in North Ga · 12-15-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianJeep86

Well I would fix the lights while I'm at it but I just really don't see the point when I planned on putting them on another switch anyways. Not everybody thinks like me, I like to be different, lol.

oh, its easy then- butttt, the flash to pass is part of the ignition system.

to bypass it, you`d need to cut the wires down on the ignition switch and reroute from there, to a secondary switch, then back down to the ignition switch....so instead of just pulling back on the stalk, you have to reach for a switch for hi/low beams...kinda defeating the luxury of the stalk arent we?

I miss the foot switch myself- and if it wasent wiried the way it is, I`d put one in my MJ.

Actually.....if one were to put a footy switch in, and route that to a relay for highbeams...while the low beams are still on....hmmmmmm, instant light!

CanadianJeep86 · 12-15-2005, 05:45 PM

Well when I was rebuilding my '89 Dakota I tried to put everything on a switch, including the ignition, just to give it a bit of a nascar look inside with the switch panel, now I don't want to do something as extreme as that with the Jeep, just something similar