2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Electrical problem!

[elamb]

When I move the tilt on the steering wheel I loose power to the radio and dash instruments. This morning on my way to work I tilted the steering wheel and my gauge panel went dead and the truck died right in the middle of the highway. When I started the truck this morning all of my radio stations were erased. Do you guys think I have a bad connection some wheres in the steering column or could it be a battery. Thanks for any help.



Eric

 

[RustyJC]

Be careful!! We had a 1986 Mercury Sable that exhibited similar symptoms and melted the major wiring harnesses in the vehicle - 3 times! If this happens when you tilt the steering column, I would suspect (as was our problem) broken, chaffed or pinched wiring in the steering column harness.



Rusty

 

[elamb]

Thanks for the reply, Rusty. You were close. I fixed it a little while ago. It was the hot wire on the plug that went to the key switch. I guess where it was a little short and me raising and lowering the steering wheel the wires broke off at the connector. The only thing keeping it running was the wire was resting in the hole in the connector and when I would lower the steering wheel it would make contact. This could have been a real cluster if it would have fell out of the hole while driving down the road. Luckily this morning when it died I was stopping at a red light. It still just about didn't stop in time though. I lengthened the wire some more so it should be good now.



Thanks

Eric