Steering Wheel Combination Switch Jeep

[DOCTORBILL]

Can someone enlighten me on removing the Steering Wheel and then the Combination
Lights / Turn Signal / Wipers / Cruise Control SWITCH on an '89 Jeep Comanche Pioneer ?





Are those Switches ALL-In-ONE or does each function have a separate replaceable "part" ?

Mine is TOAST - Lights and Turn Signal parts.

Do I buy the whole ball of wax or just the bad parts from wrecking yards.

DoctorBill

[DOCTORBILL]

After MUCH research on the Internet and some innocent comments by Wrecking Yard clerks,
I have determined that this Steering Wheel Post Combination Switch is made of replaceable
component parts - each function has it's own part.

All are sold by O'Reilly (Shucks) as separate parts and inexpensive, too.

Turn Signal Switch - 2TSS2 - $26 or S3233 - $27

Headlight Dimmer - 2DS6 - $ 14

Wiper Switch - S3401 - $99

Cruise Switch - 2TSS2 (?) - $26

Jeep used Chevy Parts - used other manuf's parts.

I'll need a special tool to remove the spring loaded retaining Plate on the Steering Wheel.
Lovely.....

DoctorBill

[DOCTORBILL]

This Forum seems devoid of any help.....not one reply.

I got this Steering Column Exploded Diagram from a local Jeep Dealer.

a thumbnail - click it.

This is for the floor shift with tilt steering wheel.
Different for column shift and/or no tilt.

DoctorBill

[gmtech1]

Hey Doc! As you noted, you will need a lock plate compressor to remove the lock plate and spring, after that it's pretty straight foreward. Just be careful not to lose any screws or springs and to reassemble in the correct order. It looks like alot of stuff in there, but its not a bad job. I used to do LOTS of column rebuilds when doing theft recoverys. Good luck!

[DOCTORBILL]

I got everything apart - more or less - it is a FREAKING nightmare !
This is some wrecking yard change out....
Never seen anything so complicated !

I finally got the front "assembly" (?) off by torquing out the tilt lever.
Didn't want to turn - some Butt Breath GLUED the threads when they put it in !

So here is the main lever switch in the top or front plastic shroud.


Been trying to take the lever out - has me stumped - can't do it.

The black Wire coming out of the side there - that is the Cruise Control Wire set - yes ?

I had to cut the wire because the little plug got stuck in the lower column sleeve.
Mine doesn't have cruise control anyway.

I am guessing that I don't have to take it out anyway.
The turn signal switch (which was broken) is out. I have a replacement switch.
The dimmer switch - run by that wire push rod - is broken - I have a replacement switch.

The windshield washer switch works - so I am going to leave it alone.
If I had to replace it - how do I get it out !?

Now - how does one get that lower column shield off ?
It won't slide up !
Big Arrow on right in photo.
I want to paint it black - wrecking yard Red now.



DoctorBill

[gmtech1]

Ok then...the lever should simply pull out, set it to the "off" position and keep it lined up and pull it straight out. There is a pin that holds the wiper switch in place and it just pushes out. It will take a little effort, but will come straight out. Yes, the wire is for the cruise control. The lower shroud (shift bowl) is pressed onto the shift tube and usually cannot be removed with the column in the car. There is a tool to push the tube out and pull it back into place. Two different tools.

[DOCTORBILL]

gmtech1 - thanks for letting me know I can't get that tube off....I would have kept trying !
Don't know HOW I will spray paint it w/o getting paint all over everything else !

As to taking the Wiper/Turn Switch out - the inner switch is fully twice the size of the
opening in the shroud - see photo.
I was thinking of cutting that small part of the plastic shroud out with a Dremel Cutting Wheel Saw.





I am finding that the "Dimmer Switch" on my Beater Comanche will not "CLICK"
and stay in one or the other position. Only stays in low beam.

Normal vehicles click on High / Low beams and hold or remain in one or the other positions.

My '89 Comanche Pioneer only stays in Low Beam and in order to get high beams, I have to hold the stick back with my hand.
Once I release it, goes back to low beams.

The Dimmer Switch (Low on the Column connected by a stiff wire to the top) has only three wires !
Cannot figure out how the switch works via my VOM Meter.....

I bought a new Dimmer switch and it does not click !

Two possibilities -

1. This '89 Jeep was never made with a Hi/Low beam click select (absurd).

2. The click part of the dimmer must occur in the upper portion of the switch with the wiper lever.

Do you (or anyone with a late '80's Comanche) know which is the case ?

IF this Beater will not click and stay in High or Low Beam Headlights - I am going to have to make some
kind of aftermarket switch for it....

Thanks for the Help !

DoctorBill

[gmtech1]

I happened to have one of the old three wire switches in my tool box, it clicks everytime. By looking the column I'm guessing you have the old one off? If you press it with your finger it does not click? I'm pretty sure that it should, never saw one in that era that didn't.

You could always pull the column to paint it, you're almost there anyway!

Oh, and the switch I have clicks at the bottom of the travel.

[DOCTORBILL]

Here is the switch that I bought at O'Reilly's for $13. Looks like the one on the column.



Does not click at any portion of the travel.

I don't doubt that this very unit was put into my Jeep Beater by the previous owner and
that that is why the Dimmer doesn't ratchet or click in there now.
Off to find the correct part....may even have to go to the Jeep Dealer and get shafted on the
price of the dimmer switch....

Wonder what JC Whitney has in their catalog....They sell & specialize in Jeep stuff.

DoctorBill

[DOCTORBILL]

I learned something today....not all dimmer switches function the same....

Took the new dimmer switch (photo in the last post) back to O'Reilly's and
told the clerk, "it doesn't work."

He took it and pushed the button (didn't work) then he pulled that shiny
"U Shaped Wire" out of the unit and then it worked !
I thought the wire was part of the switch and if I pulled it out, all sorts of springs
and dohikies would fly all about.

The Wire is a "Holding Clamp" for shipping, etc. It is supposed to be removed.
Nothing on the box or any instructions tell me that, however.

'Sposed to know it....I guess. I'm an ignorant JAFO.

So the switch works.

I came back home and looked under the dash and the unit has no shipping
wire in it, so I pushed the button - didn't work.
Pushed it HARDER and it works....guess it needs some Silicone Spray (dusty?).

The Lesson is - this switch is not like everything I have seen up until now.

This '89 Jeep Dimmer is a ratchet switch wherein I need to press the Dimmer Lever on
the steering column BACKWARD for Low Beam and then BACKWARD again to
go to High Beams.

I never have had a vehicle that did it that way !
All my vehicles are Forward - Hi Beams....Back...Low Beams.

Damn !

Back to re-assembling the Steering column now.

DoctorBill

[DOCTORBILL]

If ANYONE bothers to look into this Forum.....
I figured out some things about the Turn Signal and Headlight Dimmer Switch on my '89 Comanche.

The Turn signal switch was replaced - somewhat complex, but I got it back together.
No Turn Signals.....had to go to an Auto-Electric Shop.....

They figured out that the FUSE BOX had burnt out wires INSIDE for the Turn Signals!
How would I have ever fingered THAT out myself ?!
They by-passed it and I have an inline fuse on the bypass and now my turn signals work !
$76.

The Headlight Dimmer Switch is ADJUSTABLE !
You loosen the two bolts holding it to the steering column and move it toward or away from the top of the column.
The switch mounting plate has long slots in it !
That adjusts how much "THROW" is in the wire push-rod that clicks the switch....
Simple as hell !

All works now.

Maybe someone will - someday - reply to this Thread - too late !
I am done...and gone !

DoctorBill