Steering wheel electrical connections

[sam24462]

2002 Winnebago Sightseer
Ford F53 Chassis

I picked up this RV about 6 months ago. Just noticed the horn, cruise control and turn signal release function do not work. I figured it was a worn out turn signal cluster and a bad clock spring. I was wrong.

The turn signals work but I have to manually turn them off after I have completed the turn. Seems like a common problem but now that I have pulled the steering wheel off I noticed it is not broken.

It does not have an airbag or a standard ford clockspring in the column. It has a copper plate with three groves that have three different contacts riding in each groove. I figured I would clean them up, grease them and they should work fine.

As I was re-installing the steering wheel I noticed that the contacts do not make full contact at all. They are about 1/32nd of an inch off the copper plate. The plastic part that turns the turn signals off is not touching by about 1/4 inch. Does anyone have any ideas on what is going on?

The three spring loaded pins and the signal shut off:
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3

1: Three grooves on steering wheel
2: Signal shut off part
Image 4

Installed:
Image 5
Image 6

[sam24462]

I solved the problem at least temporarily. I unscrewed the plactic from the back of the steering wheel and placed a few little washers on the screws to push the plastic down into the steering column. Worked perfectly and you can hardly tell from the outside. You would have to know what you are looking at and have your head between the steering wheel and the dash to ever notice.

I checked all the connections and there is good contact everywhere and the signal switch turns off now. But dang it, no horn or power steering. I am sure it is a fuse or something else now.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Glad you found the problem! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[Mr_D]

from WA State!
Steering wheel contacts would have norhing to do with the power steering as I'm sure you know.

[DryCreek]

Clock spring? What the heck. All of our clocks are digital!



Just kidding. Having a Wrangler keeps you aware of the clockspring issues....

[sam24462]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

from WA State!
Steering wheel contacts would have norhing to do with the power steering as I'm sure you know.

I meant cruise control.

[CountryB]

Are you sure the steering wheel was pulled down far enough over the steering shaft when you installed it? How much thread is sticking up above the nut after the wheel is installed and the nut tightened?

You shims may have worked for now but something is just not right - you should not need any shims.

[sam24462]

Originally Posted by CountryB

Are you sure the steering wheel was pulled down far enough over the steering shaft when you installed it? How much thread is sticking up above the nut after the wheel is installed and the nut tightened?

You shims may have worked for now but something is just not right - you should not need any shims.

I agree something is off. The wheel seems to be seated all the way down on the shaft. There is only about 1/8" between the top of the steering shaft and the center bolt. It could only sink down another 1/8' at best. It has to be an issue with this part (the part I shimed)

Image

It all seems original but maybe it was changed to the wrong part at some point.

I still have not solved the original issue. I will start checking for shorts in the horn circuit and fuses.

[tderonne]

I'd have bet money you'd have found a clockspring in there. My '04 has one and my steering wheel is from a '97 F150. Have you tried to figure what vehicle your setup is from? I assume it's not unique to the F53. I'd hope that'd help in a google search to find someone else with the same problem.

Ahhh, google helped.....

"The 1992 to 1997 F250, F350 and 1992 and 1993 F150 and Broncos (pre-airbag steering wheels) use the older contact ring and brush system to get the signals to the column."

That may help in getting some information.

[sam24462]

I guess I figured a 2002 F-53 would have a 2002 steering column. I will look into this although I think the F-53 RV chassis had different options because RVs don't have the same safety requirements as regular vehicles.