Hey guys,

I just swapped out my steering column on my 98 XLT and when I had connected everything, I had one plug that didn't match any other plugs.




That is is what is installed now. The original steering column had a small two wire gray plug that went to the ignition cylinder. So now when I turn on the ignition, the windshield wipers come on and stay on, no matter where you turn the delay, but when you hit the highest delay and the steady on portion, the washers kick on. From what I can tell everything else is hunky dory, I haven't test driven it yet. If I could get an id on the steering column, that will at least get me in the ball park of where to look.

The white plug has four wires. They are Beige (or Tan) Brown, Purple Red. My Haynes book only goes back to 97 and I don't see the wires there. The junkyard I got it from said it was off of a 98, but that plug isn't shown (or I misread the schematic). Any help would be appreciated!

Mike

 

were you swapping the column for a mechanical or electrical issue?

if its mechanical issue, you could use your original harness on the new column, no?

 

Mostly for mechanical, the steering wheel had that 1 to 2 inch play in it. There were some electrical issues though, cruise control wouldn't work, no horn, blinking airbag light, light on chime would stay on until the truck was started. With the exception of the wiper, everything that is capable of being tested just sitting there is working properly with the noted exception of the windshield wiper.

When I pulled the airbag off, there was this solid white 7 wire ribbon cable that wasn't attached to anything I could find but it was chewed up pretty badly as it was wrapped around the circular part of the column. This thing is like 3 feet or more long. I can up load pics tomorrow.

So I'm not sure if I can use the old wiring harness but now I feel stupid for not thinking of that. There could be the same issue where everything that is connected now will not have a corresponding connector (i.e. there are 6 plugs on the wiring harness and only 5 on the actually steering wheel), but I'll look where there is daylight. And of course this means that I have to take it all apart. Dammit. But thanks for the idea Patman, it's appreciated!.

 

Oh, and the steering column I had in there originally had a grey two wire plug, but I was able to trace those to wires to the bottom (facing the key cylinder) of the hole where the key cylinder fits into. Near as I can tell it was for the key reminder chime.

 

no problem, the coiled harness part you're talking about is known as the "clock spring" and should be a "sealed" unit

 

That's the clock spring?!?! Holy crap! I thought it was a...well, a spring. Is it me or is that just stupendously bad engineering?

Oh, I noticed you're in DFW. I'm an Azle boy myself, just stuck out here.

 

well thats because the name has stuck, since they used to only be a single wire system for horn only. Think like a BMX brake setup that allows the full rotation of handle bars.

It used to be a single wire into a metal plate, against another metal plate with a spring behind it keep pressure on the two plates but allow rotation.

LMK if you need me to look up some diagrams for you on Alldata
-Patrick

 

If you could Patman that would be awesome. If I can figure out what those four wires are for, then I can possible re-route as needed or go ahead and get a different column. All in all it wasn't that hard. So far everything works as it should, including cruise control which makes me happy. While I've got you, doesn't the 98 have a "cruise" light when you turn it on?

Mike

 

I think what I have is a Ford Explorer Steering Column. Looking on Ebay I found a pic of a steering column they listed as an Explorer. It did have the white plug, so I think I might be on to something. If Alldata shows it, it's the Beige (or Tan) Brown, Purple, Red.