1982 SS
07-28-2005, 08:52 PM
I have found I have an intermittent electrical gremlin that seems to be there more than not. I was coming home from racing last friday and about halfway home I noticed my volt gage was low (lower than 10 volts). I drove a little further and my voltage came back up but went away slowly. The voltage appeared to come up when I hit a bump or rough patch of road. I parked it overnight so I could actually work on it. I found the output wire's lug's plastic insulation to be melted. The rubber boot that covers the lug was also charred.
I was just working on it when my father said maybe the problem lies in the steering column. Now, my steering column has been loose for awhile but has just become real loose (up and down has over 1" of play vertically). I can grab the steering wheel and shift it side to side and up and down quite a bit. I was checking the alternator output wire and the wire with fusible link from the starter solenoid and had continuity to ground. I wiggled the wheel and was able to close the circuit(s) so I no longer had continity to ground. This wiring is all stock. Is there a chance that maybe I have an intermittent short to ground in the column that is pulling some good power?
Vehicle is my 82 El Camino. I have the factory wiring diagram in the factory service manual. All the wires under the hood seem to be in fine shape. as is the wiring that I can see under the dash to the column. There was no smoke or fried insulation smell inside or anywhere so I don't think any insulation was burning.
Recap:
Intermittent short. Steering wheel moves...alot. I had continuity to ground, wiggle wheel, circuit closes and no more continuity to ground. Could steering column area/ignition switch be the problem?
I was just working on it when my father said maybe the problem lies in the steering column. Now, my steering column has been loose for awhile but has just become real loose (up and down has over 1" of play vertically). I can grab the steering wheel and shift it side to side and up and down quite a bit. I was checking the alternator output wire and the wire with fusible link from the starter solenoid and had continuity to ground. I wiggled the wheel and was able to close the circuit(s) so I no longer had continity to ground. This wiring is all stock. Is there a chance that maybe I have an intermittent short to ground in the column that is pulling some good power?
Vehicle is my 82 El Camino. I have the factory wiring diagram in the factory service manual. All the wires under the hood seem to be in fine shape. as is the wiring that I can see under the dash to the column. There was no smoke or fried insulation smell inside or anywhere so I don't think any insulation was burning.
Recap:
Intermittent short. Steering wheel moves...alot. I had continuity to ground, wiggle wheel, circuit closes and no more continuity to ground. Could steering column area/ignition switch be the problem?