I have a 66 Toronado and the turn signals work intermittantly. I think I have traced the problem to the steering column. When I move the tilt column up and down the turn signals will work briefly. I think I must have a short in the steering column. Could someone please tell me how to get to the wiring in the steering column to check for bad wiring? Thanks.

 

You don't have a short. You have an adjustment problem. There is no t/s switch wiring in the 1966 Tilt-and-Travel column. The switch is at the base of the column and is actuated by a Bowden (like a lawnmower throttle cable) cable from the yoke at the t/s lever.

Try this switch adjustment first; if it doesn't get better the cable or yoke may be wacked.

First, find the switch at the base of the column. It has a triangular plug.

Next, loosen its mounting screws and put the turn signal lever in neutral (mid) position.

Make sure the cable's eye loop is on the pin on the back side of the switch. Then move the steering wheel tilt to full "DOWN" and tighten the switch mounting screws.

 

Thanks for your reply rocketraider. Do I need to remove any of the steering column or dash to get to this switch?

 

Some cars, lowering the steering column away from the dash makes it easier, but I don't think you have to in this case. If you do, two nuts on either side of column right where it goes thru the dash. You may have to remove a hush panel on a Toronado but the switch will be between the lower dash and brake pedal. The triangular plug is your clue.

 

I found the switch and the loop was on the pin. Before loosening the screws, I could make the right and left signals work by manually moving the switch. I tried the adjustment the way you said. (There was a bracket on the steering column with 2 screws that I loosened. Is this correct?) Now the turn signals do not work with the steering wheel in any position. I tried the switch in 2 or 3 different positions and still no signals. Does this indicate that I have a bad cable? There does seem to be a good bit of play in the cable in the steering column like the cable may not be connected at the turn signal lever. If I have a bad cable, how hard is it to find one and if I do find one, how difficult is it to replace?
Thanks.

 

Can you look at the switch/cable while you're working the lever and see if it's moving anything at the switch?

If it's loose or broken at the lever end it will require some disassembly of the steering column and wheel to repair. I'll have to look in the parts book to see what interchanges.

 

When I move the lever at the steering wheel up and down, nothing seems to happen at the switch. I tried a few different adjustments at the switch and the tilt in several different positions with no change.

 

I went back out tonight and worked with the cable/switch some more. I did get to a point where when the tilt was all the way down I could feel a little movement in the cable when I moved the lever up and down. It was not enough movement to make either left or right signal work. Now I can not seem to get the switch to that position again. Is the adjustment that sensitive and should the cable move more than just a little?

 

I have taken the switch off the bracket on the steering column and disconnected the cable from the switch. The cable is sliding as it should and does not seem to have any breaks in it. There is a lot of play of the cable in the column itself near the lever. I think the problem is at the lever. I am going to start another post and see if I can find out how to disassemble the column to get to the lever/cable connection.