Hi folks,

I have a question about a couple copper contacts I found beneath the turn signal/horn assembly in my steering column. While I had all of the white plastic assembly out yesterday cleaning it up and making sure everything worked, I noticed a pair of copper contacts, 3/8" long, attached to and sticking out of the metal assembly below it. They parallel each other and it looks like they contact the 2 flat contacts on the horn/turn signal assembly with the pink wire going to them.
Well, one of them is broken off. I coudn't find anything this detailed in my books. I'm gonna attempt to repair it I guess, unless I can easily find a replacement.

Thanks all!


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Joe
HwyStar@Rochester.rr.com

Are the two contacts you mentioned enclosed in a rectangle plastic casing which drops down in the steering column? I think I know which ones you may be talking about. I had some broken in my steering column but by some miracle a friend of mine had an extra set from a steering column he had removed. Anyway, if it is the same ones, they interface with the ignition switch and contact each other when the switch is in the accessory mode I believe. It has been a while since I worked on it so I don't remember offhand what they do but once the snow disappears, I can get back to the vehicle and look at it again.

Thanks,

Larry 69 Coupe 454/5 speed

lgroehle,

Yes, they go down thru the metal 'base' around the shaft at about the 10 o'clock position. I haven't removed the rest of the internals out yet to see how they can be replaced.
I'm gonna try to fix it if possible... but I haven't called around to find a new set yet.

Thnaks!




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Joe
HwyStar@Rochester.rr.com

I too have run into these little copper "things". No one seems to know what they are for. The plastic housing they run thru was broken in my car so I took them out and put the steering column back together thinking that I would find out their function when I tried things out. Surprised me but everything seems to work just fine so I left them out and still have no idea what they are for. Will keep reading this post to see if someone knows what function they serve.

Thanks Ray,
That's what I planned on doing. I would buy a wiring specific manual for the car but I don't need one really. All the wiring is mint and/or new.
I was going to try to solder another piece of contact in it's place and see what happens. I'm insane, I know.



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Joe
HwyStar@Rochester.rr.com

I believe those are for the key detect circuit. When the key is in and the door is opened you will hear a buzzer go off under the hood.

Hey Ray... does your buzzer still work?
Do all 1st Gen. have a 'door open/key in' buzzer? I haven't seen it in the wiring diagrams. If that's what it is, then my column is done and ready to be painted! I couldn't care less if the buzzer goes off.

Thanks for the info SSPEARS.



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Joe
HwyStar@Rochester.rr.com

Joe,
Mine is a '69 and it is in the Chassis Service Manual with pretty good detail in section 12 page 51. The buzzer is part of the horn relay and as you have said is not that essential (but mine works fine now). Kind of funny but they describe it as a theft deterrent system (ha ha).

SSPEARS,

I'll look at my Chassis Manual again. That's why I must have overlooked it because I'd have never thought of it being part of a 'theft deterrent system'!
Page 51, Section 12.... wrote it down!

Thanks



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Joe
HwyStar@Rochester.rr.com
'69 former basket-case

69 Camaros are the only first gen camaros that have the key-in-the-ignition buzzer.

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Justin
-1967 Camaro SS350

www-student.furman.edu/users/j/jtrauner

hwystarjoe,

my car does not have a buzzer, may have been removed before I got the car. glad to have finally found out the function of thosse "things". Ray

Ya know... sometimes I wonder why I even bought the Chassis Manual and Assembly Manual. I don't know why I didn't look closer at it but on page 9-11, the switch is shown plainly and it just slips right out. I must have been overcome by too much kerosene from my heater or something.
I'm not even gonna worry about it unless I have the opportunity to find a used one somewhere.

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Joe
HwyStar@Rochester.rr.com
'97 Blazer
'69 former basket-case

Justin, I forgot to thank you for that piece of info.
I appreciate it.

Man, I have learned MORE from Camaros.net than ALL the books I've read. And to think I languished for so long on another forum when I could have been picking the brains over here the entire time.



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Joe
HwyStar@Rochester.rr.com
'97 Blazer
'69 former basket-case