01 radio lighting comes and goes

[edsidders]

Originally Posted by Eric01

2001 Limited - Same problem. Seems to be in the headlight / turn signal switch. Power or ground, haven't figured which. If I press on the wiring harness for the headlight switch or lift up on the wheel the radio display and horn work again. Looks like the switch depends on being grounded thru the steering wheel tilt mechanism. Over time this connection has gotten worn and very dirty / rusty. I need to add a ground wire from the switch to solid ground to check if this is the problem. Or I need to somehow clean tilt mechanism. Will updated you when I fix the problem.

I have been tied up doing some consultant work and have not had much time to play with toys , have you had any luck with the problem solving??

[oldcoach]

Let’s try to narrow down the issue if we can. The lighting to the radio as two levels. 1 is when the car is just on or running (no head lights) and the 2nd when the head lights are on. Have you tested to see if the lighting on the radio is good at one state but not the other?
Lighting to radio is good W/O head lights (yes/no)
Lighting to radio good head lights on (yes/no)

[edsidders]

same both ways , on or off ..I can move steering wheel up and down and it will change state...dash lights unaffected but horn is along with radio display..

[oldcoach]

When you say the horn is along with radio display, is it that the horn honcks when you move the steering wheel up and down? Or is it that after you move the steering wheel and the lights go out in the radio that the horn will not work?

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by edsidders

same both ways , on or off ..I can move steering wheel up and down and it will change state...dash lights unaffected but horn is along with radio display..

You're closing in on it. The housing for the steering has 2 phillips screws underneath, then it snaps apart - look at connectors...

[edsidders]

Originally Posted by oldcoach

When you say the horn is along with radio display, is it that the horn honcks when you move the steering wheel up and down? Or is it that after you move the steering wheel and the lights go out in the radio that the horn will not work?

Yes the tilt is what affects changes,not the rotation..

[oldcoach]

Trying to get this nailed down, when you move the wheel up and down and the radio light goes out, is it the horn will now not work or it honks when the wheel is moved up and down. Also when the radio light turns off is the odometer light also out?

[edsidders]

Originally Posted by oldcoach

Trying to get this nailed down, when you move the wheel up and down and the radio light goes out, is it the horn will now not work or it honks when the wheel is moved up and down.

Also when the radio light turns off is the odometer light also out?

(1)The two items seem to be separate, times the horn won't blow and the radio display lights are on and vice versa as well as both problems or no problems at the same time..I don't have a schematic but I'm guessing that the horn ckt.relay is energized when the horn button in the steering col. is switched to ground.The radio display also works thru the dash dimmer rheostat.. I'm beginning to wonder if both of these leads connect together at a ground point that moves when the wheel is tilted and that connection has burnt and the slag is causing a int. connection.

(2)The odometer light stays on

Leaving for r/c boat races @ Houston tomorrow ,open water Fri ,3 heats Sat,2 heats Sun, be back middle of next week and should have time to dig into it..

[shadowlike]

HI all, new to your group. I've had the same problem for the last two years in my 03. Radio would total blackout at the oddest times but still be playing. A couple of weeks ago while driving, the radio light went out. For some reason I tapped the the ignition key in, the light went on. I tapped the key tapped slightly down and out, the radio lights went out. Tap in, lights on etc. In my case I think the wife's heavy key rings & keys have worn out the contacts inside the switch.

[oldcoach]

edsidders

The horn is grounded through the Steering column, but not the radio.

I would look at what shadowlike stated about the ignition for the radio light issue.