steering column wiring-UPDATE

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steering column wiring-UPDATE

Postby shoebox1.1 » Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:10 am

ok my car is a 80 coupe. my buddy who had the car before went out and bought on ebay and 78 wagon (i think) tilt steering column.
here s the problem the main connector near the drivers feet on the column has many wires i think 9-12 or somthing... anyway mine (80 coupe) dont match the 78 tilt color for color. maybe they arent supposed to?
also the connector doesnt seem like it wants to go together... are there different "ignition switch" connectors? can i just find the right connector and cut and splice? i will make female spades if i have to and induvidually make each connection if needed :censored:
Last edited by shoebox1.1 on Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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1980 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe


Re: steering column wiring

Postby spencerforhire » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:37 am

If it will physically plug in, it's probably ok. The differences you're finding are probably due to the fact that the 78 wagon is a "leftover"Vega-Astre, not a Monza-Sunbird. You should double check the diagrams for both years(and maybe for the 78 wagon you should be looking in the 77 Vega diagram) to compare the pin configuration. I posted separate diagrams for each year in the electrical section.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

Visit http://www.spencerforhire.ca
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1972 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Re: steering column wiring

Postby shoebox1.1 » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:28 am

should the wire colors match up pin for pin?
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Posts: 324
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1980 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Re: steering column wiring

Postby spencerforhire » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:42 pm

I remember swapping a 79 Monza tilt column into a 76 Vega and everything plugged right in. What plugs have different colors? The ignition switch or the signal wiring?
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

Visit http://www.spencerforhire.ca
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Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

1972 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Re: steering column wiring

Postby shoebox1.1 » Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:15 pm

the connector in question is a approx 6 inch black connector (thin) coming out of the tilt column. im assuming this is for the turn signals and key buzzers etc... the tilt column wires are not in line with the female connector that is my "dash harness". the connectors themselves dont seem to want to snap together. i think the lil locating tab is to narrow somewhere. anyway i went out there tonite and it appears to be a 78 tilt column as what was sold to us. (per the wire diagrams). both of these connectors(male and female) have letters for each wire.. i.e. a b c d e f etc... if you match those up the colors match 97% ! im thinking about just ditching both male and female connector housings and put in my own male /female spades! hows that sound? :beer:
shoebox1.1
 
Posts: 324
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:06 pm
Location: mc kinnney texas

1980 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Re: steering column wiring

Postby MIKESMONZA » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:45 am

Do you have the original column for your car? ,,,If so you could probaly reinstall the wiring from that columb to the tilt columb and use the lower original electrical swithch or a correct replacement and as I recall also some GM columns had a plastic adapter on them,,to add cruise and other options and of course they named it a PIANO conection,check ,,,,I know the harness for the turn signal's and flasher can be bought,,,for a simular size columm and installed in most models,,,Ask Clyde if he has any scans (Diagram parts pictures) of this parts combo on the cars and car parts you or working with and availbilty,,Mike
355,SBC,700R4Trans,3.42 rear,Sandersons,Edelbrock,Carb,Intake,Griffin,1,900 rpms at 60 MPH Highway Cruise Car.
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1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

Re: steering column wiring

Postby spencerforhire » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:13 am

I agree with Mikesmonza's idea of re-using your old harness in the tilt column. As another option you could use just the connector(if the wires clip in the same way) from your original column. I think I have both Vega and Monza columns out in the garage; I'll take a peek to see if I can find any differences.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

Visit http://www.spencerforhire.ca
User avatar
spencerforhire
 
Posts: 2442
Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:02 pm
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

1972 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback

Re: steering column wiring

Postby shoebox1.1 » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:00 am

well i dont have the original column. if anyone has the correct lower connector (piano lookin) id sure be interested in it :D
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Posts: 324
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Location: mc kinnney texas

1980 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe

Re: steering column wiring-UPDATE

Postby shoebox1.1 » Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:55 am

well i went out there tonite and got some stuff done!!!!!!!!! i took these piano style connectors that wouldnt click together and modded them to work. i took the 77-78 tilt connector (which in all reality could be aftermarket wiring) and took the male pins out. a lil snip snip to the female connector housing and the two would connect. then rearranged the male pins in the vacant holes to match up colors to colors. the only problem i had was like the light blue wire was LT blue on the sunbird connector but black with LT blue stripe on the column side. ALL MY LIGHTS WORK! turn signals, brake, park lamps.. etc... ive hooked up the main 10ga red to power up the car and everything looks A O K!! but for some reason the car isnt cranking with the key. if i can figure that out it will run soon!!!!! this was a manual trans car so the clutch switch is purple then into purple/white. the switch was already bypassed.. the purple wire on my diagram that shows to go to the "S" terminal on the starter i think ive found. heavy 10ga wire with a female eyelet on it. its quite faded and looks peachy in color. lol i work on late model toyotas all day long its kinda a trip to work on almost 30yr old GM wiring! THANKS FOR EVERYONES HELP!!!
shoebox1.1
 
Posts: 324
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 10:06 pm
Location: mc kinnney texas

1980 Pontiac Sunbird Coupe


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