steering wheel/cruise control

[jamesblonde82]

my cruise control miraculously stopped working yesterday. and well it was having problems before where i had to push the steering wheel kinda inwards towards the dash and then press the "set" button in order for the cruise to come on. and i noticed when i turn the wheel theres a grinding sort of noise. i drive on the highway a lot about 30 mins each way to and from school so i LOVE cruise control. anyway, my question is how hard is it to get a 240sx steering wheel off?? am i going to need special tools? once i get it off can i get it back on easy? i've heard of guys with other cars having problems taking it off, then they lost springs, etc. i don't want to possibly screw shyt up, and i'd hate to take it to the dealer for something seemingly simple. i've done almost everything myself on that car cept the transmission rebuild. it'd be nice to hear from someone who's removed the steering wheel on a 240 before.

[Loki]

zerothread?id=210096

Sounds to me like your CC connection became unplugged. Might as well pop it and take a look.

[jamesblonde82]

thanks Loki. i searched and i seen that post before but i didn't think it would help much because it's not a car with CC. what i need to know is where that little connection is. if i need a new one is it easily ordered from nissan?

[94_240sx]

Yes, the first thing you need to check is connect points behing steering wheel. Make sure the area is clean w/no damages. Here's the step:

1. Remove 2 or 3 small screws on the back of the steering wheel2. Take the front cover out3. Disconnect wiring harness4. Unbolt big nut in the middle about 1/2 way. DO NOT REMOVE the nut completely. Leave it there with a few turn.5. Have a seat, put your foot on brake pedal and pull the steering wheel real hard. If it won't come out, spray little bit of PB Blaster or WD-40 and wait. When you pull it, you can also ask your friend stand outside and pull it together.

#5 is the toughest, but I never failed on several cars. Just be patient. Good luck and keep us posted.


Modified by 94_240sx at 12:04 PM 4/16/2007

[Loki]

Well, that's mainly so you can get the steering wheel off in the first place. I doubt there's much difference outside of the CC connection. I've had that link on my favorites forever, thought it could help.

[94_240sx]

Just checked loki's link. Yeah, only difference is 2-3 rings on the column and some contact pieces on the steering wheel for the cruise control. When I took mine off to replace steering wheel, it was nasty with 10+ years of grease and stuff. Clean all that up, check the contact spots, regrease and see what happens. I bet something must have worn out or something like that...

[jamesblonde82]

ok so i took off my steering wheel. step 5 was actually easy because my grandad had a steering wheel puller. i thought it was harded to line it back up with the marks to put it back on.... anyway the three rings where worn a little, but nothing that would affect it so much to make it not work. i cleaned it nonetheless and made sure the pins retracted back and forth well and put the steering wheel back on. took it for a test drive and still no cruise. but the grinding noise is gone when i turn, so whatever. the cruise on/off button located under the headlight up/down button on the dash will light up saying cruise is on, but cruise will not set and light in dash of course won't come on either. i've looked for fuses, but can't find one. also another symptom for awhile was the cruse light on the dash would actually flash sometimes when i was trying to set it. so i would turn cruise off, then back on, then try and set it again and it would work. was doing that all the way up till it stopped working altogether. another thing i noticed since i had the car was that it was slow to respond to inclines and declines, but i didn't ever think much of that. i wonder if it could be a sensor problem, or computer problem. i ruled out the connection theory. i just don't want to bring it to nissan and have them tell me it's all kinds of stuff i know it's not and get overcharged.

[94_240sx]

also another symptom for awhile was the cruse light on the dash would actually flash sometimes when i was trying to set it. so i would turn cruise off, then back on, then try and set it again and it would work.

Okay, mine does that like once every 10 times or so. I've asked it before on NICO, but didn't get any answer for it. I'm on the highway, simply turn on the cruise, set and it blinks. It bugged hell out of me first, but I get used to it. Do you have FSM? I'd go through cruise control section first. Good job on the steering wheel though. Looks like electrical/switch problem at this point.

[jamesblonde82]

not sure what FSM is. ill check it out. maybe ill go buy another steering wheel switch set and see if thats the problem too. because my accel button only worked every now and then anyway. i'd complain if the car weren't 15 years old. a lot of people with cars that are only 5 years old have far more problems. i think the 240's held together pretty well over the years. cept the auto trannies, those are just junk.

[jamesblonde82]

anyone else know where the problem might be?

[jamesblonde82]

no FSM, still having the cruise problem. there's no code from the ECU for cruise either. anyone with any bright ideas?

[94_240sx]

no FSM, still having the cruise problem. there's no code from the ECU for cruise either. anyone with any bright ideas?

Just emailed FSM. Go through that and you should get some idea...