Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thebabybrahma · 05-09-2011, 08:42 PM

Came in today after feeling pretty good about collapsing the steering column about 2 inches yesterday... And low and behold truck was sitting against the garage door!!!!!

I thought -no biggie, must have left it in neutral.. but no!
I have moved something because it will not start, but worse it doesn;t seem to have a PARK,REVERSE, ETC...

What could have happened???? Help???/

hugger6933 · 05-09-2011, 08:52 PM

I know this sounds stupid but check the little plastic pionter. I had two in two days braek and I could not move the shifter up past neutral. The broken part had fallen down agianst the shift tube. Jim

thebabybrahma · 05-09-2011, 09:11 PM

thanks for the info.. will check tomorrow....other ideas?

60ratrod · 05-09-2011, 11:26 PM

the shift linkage may have slipped. once you know you can move the shift lever in the cab from park to 1st with no problems make sure that your trans shift lever on the trans is in park. again, your linkage may have slipped. your collumn may say park, but in all reality you could be in reverse or neutral. also on your collumn you might not be in the right spot for the neutral saftey switch. my collumn in my 72 has the same problem of not starting if its not in the right position to hit the nss.

thebabybrahma · 05-10-2011, 08:01 PM

park, neutral, reverse and drive seem fine..
found a black switch on the column down next to the firewall, it has a dark green and light green wire in a plug in on it and 2 purple wires on another plug on it.
what switch did I find? can I jump the 2 greens together and the 2 purples together?
with the switch ON one of the green wires has 12volts, one of the purple wires has 12volts when the switch is turned to the START position... HELP PLEASE

60ratrod · 05-10-2011, 08:24 PM

you have just found the neutral safety switch. it will not allow you to crank the engine unless the shift lever is in park/neutral. it might be worn out. i wouldn't jump the wires, but that's me

thebabybrahma · 05-10-2011, 08:30 PM

Found out the green wires are for the backup lights....
And the purples are the ignition wires.. i jumpes the purples together but still nothing...the dome light dims but no starter action...wonder what happened....

05-09-2011, 08:42 PM	#1
thebabybrahma Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gray,Tennessee Posts: 182	Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... Came in today after feeling pretty good about collapsing the steering column about 2 inches yesterday... And low and behold truck was sitting against the garage door!!!!! I thought -no biggie, must have left it in neutral.. but no! I have moved something because it will not start, but worse it doesn;t seem to have a PARK,REVERSE, ETC... What could have happened???? Help???/ __________________ '85 C-10, with 93 LT-1 & 4L60 1985 GMC, lookin' for its big block motor - SOLD '72 Chevy C-10 Cheyenne-SOLD

05-09-2011, 08:52 PM	#2
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,263	Re: Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... I know this sounds stupid but check the little plastic pionter. I had two in two days braek and I could not move the shifter up past neutral. The broken part had fallen down agianst the shift tube. Jim

05-09-2011, 09:11 PM	#3
thebabybrahma Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gray,Tennessee Posts: 182	Re: Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... thanks for the info.. will check tomorrow....other ideas? __________________ '85 C-10, with 93 LT-1 & 4L60 1985 GMC, lookin' for its big block motor - SOLD '72 Chevy C-10 Cheyenne-SOLD

05-09-2011, 11:26 PM	#4
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	Re: Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... the shift linkage may have slipped. once you know you can move the shift lever in the cab from park to 1st with no problems make sure that your trans shift lever on the trans is in park. again, your linkage may have slipped. your collumn may say park, but in all reality you could be in reverse or neutral. also on your collumn you might not be in the right spot for the neutral saftey switch. my collumn in my 72 has the same problem of not starting if its not in the right position to hit the nss. __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

05-10-2011, 08:01 PM	#5
thebabybrahma Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gray,Tennessee Posts: 182	Re: Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... park, neutral, reverse and drive seem fine.. found a black switch on the column down next to the firewall, it has a dark green and light green wire in a plug in on it and 2 purple wires on another plug on it. what switch did I find? can I jump the 2 greens together and the 2 purples together? with the switch ON one of the green wires has 12volts, one of the purple wires has 12volts when the switch is turned to the START position... HELP PLEASE __________________ '85 C-10, with 93 LT-1 & 4L60 1985 GMC, lookin' for its big block motor - SOLD '72 Chevy C-10 Cheyenne-SOLD

05-10-2011, 08:24 PM	#6
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	Re: Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... you have just found the neutral safety switch. it will not allow you to crank the engine unless the shift lever is in park/neutral. it might be worn out. i wouldn't jump the wires, but that's me __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

05-10-2011, 08:30 PM	#7
thebabybrahma Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gray,Tennessee Posts: 182	Re: Shortened steering column.Guess what happened next..... Found out the green wires are for the backup lights.... And the purples are the ignition wires.. i jumpes the purples together but still nothing...the dome light dims but no starter action...wonder what happened.... __________________ '85 C-10, with 93 LT-1 & 4L60 1985 GMC, lookin' for its big block motor - SOLD '72 Chevy C-10 Cheyenne-SOLD

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