Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Truck in signature. Has controls on steering wheel for remote radio and cruise.
Old problems:
· Cruise
o Sometimes cruisewould work sometimes not - meaning, sometimes the "cruise" light in gage cluster would illuminate and cruise would work and sometimes not.
· Radio
o Always works: center button left side moves up the pre-set channels, top button left side increase channel number up and top button right side increase volume.
o Works but incorrectly: bottom button left side (supposed to decrease channel number) typically increases volume and bottom button right side (supposed to decrease volume) typically increase channel number.
NOTES: Occasionally the cruise works "if" - immediately after starting and while the dash lights were "all" still lit - you press the cruise on button. Radio controls “always” work as outlined above = not correctly.
Removed old (replaced circa 2005) clockspring. Noticed transparent gold oily substance on back-side of mechanism? Figured this could be lubricant from inside clock spring? More promising was the thought that this could be why I was having problems (reported above) for past X number of years.
Installed new clock spring.
Steering wheel tilted to middle/neutral position.
Started engine, e-brake off, gear selector in“D”, brake pedal depressed = not moving.
· Pressed “Cruise”button, dash “cruise” light illuminated = “YES”!
· Tested all remote radio buttons, all worked as designed = “YES”!
"SUCCESS"!!!
Still in “D”, foot on brake pedal I adjusted steering wheel tilt to full up. Immediately heard chime (like when you open door with ignition key in, or lights on, or when low fuel indicated, etc.) I look at the gage cluster and notice some lights on for 5-10 seconds maybe, but not the cruise light “and” when I pressed the “cruise on” button it didn’t illuminate on dash. “NOOO”!!! And when I test the remote radio buttons they all worked as before (as noted in Old Clock Spring above). “NOOO”!!!
Unfortunately “YES”… I get a whopping 5 minutes (if that much) reward of everything working - for my 2 hours of work and less than $100 for the new part.
Here’s what I think is going on (understand I am not looking to all of you for validation of what I “think” more so looking for what you think - or have experienced - the problem could be - I’m at wits end on where/what to go after at this point?), I “think” there’s a wire somewhere in the tilt mechanism “or” one of the devices attached to the tilt part of the column (ignition, turn/wiper switch) that is shorting out (briefly)causing one or more of the inner electrics of the clock spring to fail.
Do note: whether or not the cruise is on or off, I'm driving down the road, or sitting still, “sometimes” if I change the tilt from middle to full up position the dash lights will illuminate and chime will sound as if I just turned on the key. "Something somewhere ain't right"???? HELP???
Your thoughts and/or ideas are appreciated.
Old problems:
· Cruise
o Sometimes cruisewould work sometimes not - meaning, sometimes the "cruise" light in gage cluster would illuminate and cruise would work and sometimes not.
· Radio
o Always works: center button left side moves up the pre-set channels, top button left side increase channel number up and top button right side increase volume.
o Works but incorrectly: bottom button left side (supposed to decrease channel number) typically increases volume and bottom button right side (supposed to decrease volume) typically increase channel number.
NOTES: Occasionally the cruise works "if" - immediately after starting and while the dash lights were "all" still lit - you press the cruise on button. Radio controls “always” work as outlined above = not correctly.
Removed old (replaced circa 2005) clockspring. Noticed transparent gold oily substance on back-side of mechanism? Figured this could be lubricant from inside clock spring? More promising was the thought that this could be why I was having problems (reported above) for past X number of years.
Installed new clock spring.
Steering wheel tilted to middle/neutral position.
Started engine, e-brake off, gear selector in“D”, brake pedal depressed = not moving.
· Pressed “Cruise”button, dash “cruise” light illuminated = “YES”!
· Tested all remote radio buttons, all worked as designed = “YES”!
"SUCCESS"!!!
Still in “D”, foot on brake pedal I adjusted steering wheel tilt to full up. Immediately heard chime (like when you open door with ignition key in, or lights on, or when low fuel indicated, etc.) I look at the gage cluster and notice some lights on for 5-10 seconds maybe, but not the cruise light “and” when I pressed the “cruise on” button it didn’t illuminate on dash. “NOOO”!!! And when I test the remote radio buttons they all worked as before (as noted in Old Clock Spring above). “NOOO”!!!
Unfortunately “YES”… I get a whopping 5 minutes (if that much) reward of everything working - for my 2 hours of work and less than $100 for the new part.
Here’s what I think is going on (understand I am not looking to all of you for validation of what I “think” more so looking for what you think - or have experienced - the problem could be - I’m at wits end on where/what to go after at this point?), I “think” there’s a wire somewhere in the tilt mechanism “or” one of the devices attached to the tilt part of the column (ignition, turn/wiper switch) that is shorting out (briefly)causing one or more of the inner electrics of the clock spring to fail.
Do note: whether or not the cruise is on or off, I'm driving down the road, or sitting still, “sometimes” if I change the tilt from middle to full up position the dash lights will illuminate and chime will sound as if I just turned on the key. "Something somewhere ain't right"???? HELP???
Your thoughts and/or ideas are appreciated.
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