Multifunction Stalk?

Looking for one of these. Anybody know where you can buy them? AutoZone says it's $173.. that can't POSSIBLY be right.


...can it?

Good god.

So yeah... anybody have one of these laying around they'd be willing to part with for a reasonable price? There's no way I can drop that kind of coin right now. Called around, and it looks like the ones WITHOUT cruise are like $10. WITH cruise and it gets crazy expensive....

I just went out to the parts car and grabbed it for you. Worked fine when last driven.

$25 shipped, sound good?

You can get them on Ebay cheap too. Also check Rock Auto.

-Mike

i checked rock auto and they are expensive, they give you an interchange on it...firebird and camaro's are the same

Did you try your local junk yard? They should have it cheap.

I haven't yet, no. It's also pouring rain up here in Jacksonville, so I don't want to drive the car.

No matter. An excuse to ride my bike to school.

Stingroo wrote:

I haven't yet, no. It's also pouring rain up here in Jacksonville, so I don't want to drive the car.

No matter. An excuse to ride my bike to school.

I have to ask, what is wrong with the stalk?

There is a reason I ask, see my "book" over yonder (link) about fixing a nonworking cruise switch. It might save you a LOT of money.

Dorman sells a replacement stalk (with cruise) for about $40, but it doesn't actually show up unless you have the link to it at Autozone...or I haven't figure out how to find it with their search! 95BRMW told me of this item. I don't have the link now, or I'd post it as well.

Do any of these cars not have the cruise control installed?

The very low level optioned cars may have cruise control delete.

Bill - I saw your thread.


The problem is I can turn the stalk freely without the wipers engaging at all. It takes a lot of effort to get them to even come on, and the I only have one wiper speed.

Stingroo wrote:

Bill - I saw your thread.

Just thought I'd throw it out there, just in case. Please don't take this the wrong way, but you should say exactly what isn't working.

Stingroo wrote:

The problem is I can turn the stalk freely without the wipers engaging at all. It takes a lot of effort to get them to even come on, and the I only have one wiper speed.

I'm afraid you may not like what I'm going to say here... And maybe you already know...

It seems to me that the actual wiper switch is in the column itself. While I've not been into it with great detail, it appears to me that a metal tab on the stalk actuates the wiper switch inside the column. Some part of me is afraid that the switch itself is made of plastic while the "core" of the stalk is metal. In other words, the switch may break or wear out long before that metal core ever does. Yuck.

I'm thinking its the stalk, because if I turn it enough, I CAN get other speeds to engage (as I just found out) but you have to turn it alot - like 3/4 of the way around where you can't even see the cruise buttons.

Also, if you hold the stalk, and use your other hand to push the Wash feature, that does work. I

Thoughts?

Is you lever slightly dislodged from the slot?

No sir. Seems to sit just fine.

My first guess, with the added information, is a broken switch. The stalk only plugs into the switch, and does not contain the switch for the wipers.

Why do you think it's the switch?

I'm curious. I might take a video of the behavior of the stalk to explain better.

i think they are trying to say the stalk just works as a knob ??

While gathering parts for my Imp Console install, I twisted a Stalk at the wrong time and broke the Wiper Switch inside the column. It allowed the Stalk to just rotate completely around and not function properly.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

The very low level optioned cars may have cruise control delete.

My old 92 Sedan was a zero option car, manual windows/locks, no Rear Defrost, etc. Yet it had Cruise Control.

94Woody wrote:

While gathering parts for my Imp Console install, I twisted a Stalk at the wrong time and broke the Wiper Switch inside the column. It allowed the Stalk to just rotate completely around and not function properly.

I could have done that.

Ugh.

So uh... does anyone have that switch too? lol

Fred Kiehl wrote:

My first guess, with the added information, is a broken switch. The stalk only plugs into the switch, and does not contain the switch for the wipers.

Stingroo wrote:

Why do you think it's the switch?

I think that because the wiper switch is actually in the column. I also think that it's the switch because the metal shaft coming out of the stalk is just that...metal. I'm not sure precisely what metal it is, but I did notice surface rust when I had mine apart. So I'd guess it is some kind of steel. It is this little shaft that operates the wiper switch in the column. The metal shaft and the "ears" on it seem pretty darn sturdy to me.

Knowing GM, the actual switch is probably plastic bodied with metal contacts inside it. It is simply the thing that would be subject to more wear (and is more mechanically complex) over time. When did this happen (or when did you notice it)? Could your adventure into the steering column have diddled it?

(Random personal theory as to the problem: time and maybe some less than gentle operations of the actual switch have "reamed" the mating surfaces out, making the metal ears on the stalk unable to operate it correctly. This would explain why the stalk rotates too freely and doesn't operate the wipers correctly.)

Stingroo wrote:

I'm curious. I might take a video of the behavior of the stalk to explain better.

It might be helpful if you did that.

DROLDS2U wrote:

i think they are trying to say the stalk just works as a knob ??

That's exactly correct. When you're operating the high beams, turn signals or wipers, you are operating switches inside the steering column! When I had the stalk out of my car, I was able to stick my finger into the opening and continue to operate the high beam headlights and turn signals without incident.

Yeah, my fiddling in the column could have done it.

Jay - do you have a wiper switch as well?

Stingroo wrote:

Yeah, my fiddling in the column could have done it.

Another random thought... (I should really be asleep. )

Is it possible that the switch could have been put in backwards when you put your steering column back together? This could certainly make for some really strange behavior. I don't know if the wiring would allow it or even if it's possible, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

I never removed the switch. I did not have to go any deeper than removing the turn signal cams.

uxwbill wrote:

Is it possible that the switch could have been put in backwards when you put your steering column back together? This could certainly make for some really strange behavior. I don't know if the wiring would allow it or even if it's possible, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

Getting to the actual Windshield Wiper Switch involves a lot more tear down than replacing a lock cylinder.

It is pinned inside of the large plastic part in this pic.



Since the pin only goes in one way (towards the inside of the Column of course), you must remove the plastic part. That leaves you with a large mess of wires to fish out of (and back into) the Column.



I still have to take mine apart to put the one in my pic back in. I found that the parts are different between the TBI and LT1 cars (at least with the 2 I have) and I need to get my LT part back in.

Depending upon ones comfort with tearing down a Column, it may be easier to change the entire Column.

Easier? Probably. Cheaper?

Probably not.

Time to do some more learning!

Update: Dad came to visit for the weekend. I showed him the problem with the stalk. He was able to manipulate it to get all of the wiper speeds to engage.


I think I am going to pull the stalk and see if I can replace with another. We'll see how this goes. Dad seems to think that it's the problem as well.

94Woody wrote:

Fred Kiehl wrote:

The very low level optioned cars may have cruise control delete.

My old 92 Sedan was a zero option car, manual windows/locks, no Rear Defrost, etc. Yet it had Cruise Control.

Lot's of 9C1's are cruise delete. Seen one civi car without it too.

My old 94 9C1 ex-OPP was no cruise. No posi, also. And... radio delete. Roll up windows. Manual seats. Because... race car! lol

I'll ship the stalk tomorrow!

Oh. Yeah. Let me PP you that now.

Well ****. Swapped stalks. No go.

Guess I'm going yarding next weekend to tear down a yard car and figure out what I'm dealing with.