Weird cold weather problem
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Carter Lake, IA
Weird cold weather problem
Whats up guys, I'm new to the FTE forums and need to pick your brains. I have really strange cold weather problem and need some help diagnosing it. When the outside temp is below say 35 degrees, none of my steering wheel controls work. No horn and no cruise control, after I drive the truck a while and the interior is warmed up they will both start working again. Let it sit for an hour and.... nothing they quit, then you have to drive around for 45 mins. before they will work again.
I,m stumped any ideas are greatly appreciated. The truck is a 1999 F-250 4x4 with a 7.3L stroke.
I,m stumped any ideas are greatly appreciated. The truck is a 1999 F-250 4x4 with a 7.3L stroke.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
Corrosion on the contacts? Maybe the contacts for those circuits have a bit of corrosion build up and driving (turning the wheel frequently) scrubs off just enough to make contact again. Then because of the cold, a little moisture makes it back on the to contacts and causes the freshly cleaned areas to corrode up again.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 420
From: Long Island USA
The wiring is done through a clock-spring setup behind the steering wheel. Everything is direct-contact, no moving/sliding contacts whatsoever.
Sounds like the clockspring is going bad. Broken wires, move it around a bit, they start to contact again. Cold makes things shrink - heat makes them expand. As the wires in the clockspring expand from heat, they start to contact again.
But I would definitely check all the connectors involved first.
Sounds like the clockspring is going bad. Broken wires, move it around a bit, they start to contact again. Cold makes things shrink - heat makes them expand. As the wires in the clockspring expand from heat, they start to contact again.
But I would definitely check all the connectors involved first.
