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Steering Column Cover removal
RogerMilne:
Can someone tell me how to pull the 4 brass looking pins, 2 each side of the steering column, so I can remove the headlight dimmer switch?
I don't want to force anything, but it looks like press in pins that secure the outer case of the column.
Thanks
Steve Huber:
Roger,
Have you verified the dimmer switch is bad? You can check it by checking continuity between pin 30 of the headlight relay R11 and VCB-11 (low beam) and VCB-12 (high beam). All points are on the PCB in the front electrical bay.
Steve
RogerMilne:
--- Quote from: Steve Huber on October 29, 2025, 07:35:28 PM ---Roger,
Have you verified the dimmer switch is bad? You can check it by checking continuity between pin 30 of the headlight relay R11 and VCB-11 (low beam) and VCB-12 (high beam). All points are on the PCB in the front electrical bay.
Steve
--- End quote ---
Hey Steve,
Yes, I've tested the aforementioned circuits and I have continuity through pin 30 on R11 to VCB-12, but nothing at VCB-11. I checked the switch several times but get nothing through VCB-11.
So the removal of the column cover was more in line with wire tracing than removal of the dimmer switch. Here's why.
I have the SM211 schematic and I'm trying to match wires to pins. The PO has cut and tapped into Lo Beam wire and ran a feed to the low beam wires at the bulb connectors. I explained this in the other post I had running about the Dimmer Mod and Light bar. As it turns out there's no Dim Headlight mod'. The wiring I removed was entirely for a relay setup for Hi'Lo beams on the headlights and Light bar. So assuming that all I would do is re-connect the cut wire directly and be back in business, but the Lo beam circuit is compromised somewhere.
The schematic shows P6 connector which I have and appears to be wiring matching the control buttons under the horn pad.
I have another connector P2 which doesn't seem to match the wiring numbers to labeling on the wire. but it is as follows and the confusing part is 3 separate wires one of which was cut by the PO and where this mysterious Lo beam feed came from.
Hopefully this makes sense.
The 3 separate connectors from the column to coach harness are as follows.
Wire #69 - Hi Beam
Wire #67 - Headlight Lo/Hi Switch
Wire #68 - Lo Beam ( this wire was cut and tapped to feed the low beam bulb connectors at the headlamps.
P6 connector from column is marked with wires on one side of the connector to Coach harness connector with the following.
Wire #13 - Lt Fr Turn
Wire #12 - Rt Fr Turn
Wire #11 - Lt RR Turn Brake
Wire #10 - Rt RR Turn Brake
Wire #71 - Flasher Out
Wire #294 - Flasher Out
Wire #27 - Brake Switch Out
Again the only issue at the moment is I have ALL Marker Lights. Turn Signals. Hazard Flashers. Hi Beam.
But when I select Lo Beam the #69 Dimmer Fuse blows.
Steve Huber:
Roger,
Suggest a different and maybe simpler approach. Remove both low beam bulbs and the DRL relay and see if fuse still blows. If it does, short is between dimmer switch low beam output and bulbs or DRL relay. If not replace components one at a time to see which path causes the short.
I'm assuming you've removed the wire added by the PO and repaired the wiring so you have a single wire running from the low beam output of the dimmer switch to VCB-11. That should take the steering column /smart wheel out of the problem'
BTW where are you getting the wire #s you listed as I don't see them on SM-211 or 380850026.
Steve
RogerMilne:
--- Quote from: Steve Huber on October 30, 2025, 01:00:51 AM ---Roger,
Suggest a different and maybe simpler approach. Remove both low beam bulbs and the DRL relay and see if fuse still blows. If it does, short is between dimmer switch low beam output and bulbs or DRL relay. If not replace components one at a time to see which path causes the short.
I'm assuming you've removed the wire added by the PO and repaired the wiring so you have a single wire running from the low beam output of the dimmer switch to VCB-11. That should take the steering column /smart wheel out of the problem'
BTW where are you getting the wire #s you listed as I don't see them on SM-211 or 380850026.
Steve
--- End quote ---
I'll disconnect the low beam bulb connectors, and I'll see where the DRL relay is and remove that. Just so I mention it, there is a DRL connector on the firewall in the front headlight/ Generator bay. The PO had removed the original headlamp units and replaced them with after market ones. I only know this because I have an un-used DRL connector hanging in the front bay area and the headlamp units are secured to the headlamp hole by custom made brackets.
The "so called" tapped in wire, I did remove it and remade the connection to the one plug connector #68 wire from the steering column, so as I said earlier I thought it would be a simple remove the T and splice back to single wire. BUT it's that wire when I turn on Lo beam that causes fuse #69 to blow. I have it disconnected currently until I trace where that wire goes from harness to headlights and what's in between is the problem ( I believe ).
As for the wiring numbers. That's the numbers printed on the wires coming off the column. The connector ( I assumed was P6 ) then goes off into the madness under the dash, BUT with the printed wire description, hence, why I labeled them as such in the post. I have NO clue what those numbers mean, which is why I was attempting pull deeper into the column wiring to see if I could identify them.
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