Day Time Running Lights

[Juddder]

So two problems / challenges with the Cerb. today - one old, one new so would appreciate any thoughts!

1. Day Time Running Lights

So, obviously impressed by the Volvos it's been overtaking, my Cerb. has decided to develop it's own running lights

- Lights off, engine on

Main lights are on, dashboard lights are off, side lights are off

- Side lights on, engine on

Main AND side lights are on, dashboard lights are on

- Main lights on, engine on

Main AND side lights are on, dashboard lights are on

Any suggestions here as I'd rule out the switch and the main circuitry as the interior and side lights are behaving correctly.

Therefore perhaps a short near the fuse box, or a loose wire?

2. Steering wheel turning off center

This one has been with the car for a while but doing a lock to lock of the steering wheel shows that it's turning slightly off centre and is moving the centre 'pod' up and down a few mm as it turns

Could this be the steering rack being slightly loose (*insert correct technical term here if I knew what it was), or perhaps having developed a 'kink'?

I've never touched the steering on the car, but although this doesn't affect the driving it would be nice to fix

Gordo(n) (?) at Str8Six noticed a few years ago but I've never taken it further to investigate

Happy Sundays and thanks for any thoughts!

Alex

Edited by Juddder on Monday 2nd October 09:01

[Byker28i]

The steering wheel moves up and down, in and out, to adjust for your height/seating position. There's an adjust lever underneath? (Been 11 years since I set mine). Could be that is loose? It moves the wheel and pod with it.

[Juddder]

Byker28i said:

The steering wheel moves up and down, in and out, to adjust for your height/seating position. There's an adjust lever underneath? (Been 11 years since I set mine). Could be that is loose? It moves the wheel and pod with it.

Thanks - good suggestion

I'll check that but it doesn't / didn't massively feel like that as turning left and right it seems to have a sticking point going backwards and forwards each way

I believe from the workshop manual, the steering column and 'pod' can be taken out in one go - second section here

http://www.thetvrsite.com/files/workshop-manuals/1...

Maybe it's worth trying that and checking the shaft unless that's a crazy difficult job?

[FarmyardPants]

It might be worth lifting the front wheels off the ground, removing the driver's side front wheel and turn the steering lock to lock while observing the steering column and UJ in the wheelarch. It may be that the UJ is catching or stiff and is moving the steering column around (where it enters the car). Also have a look in the footwell while spinning the steering and see if that gives you any clues, e.g. the column is bent.

[Juddder]

FarmyardPants said:

It might be worth lifting the front wheels off the ground, removing the driver's side front wheel and turn the steering lock to lock while observing the steering column and UJ in the wheelarch. It may be that the UJ is catching or stiff and is moving the steering column around (where it enters the car). Also have a look in the footwell while spinning the steering and see if that gives you any clues, e.g. the column is bent.

Top advice - many thanks!

I'll try exactly that over the weekend and see what I can see - as you say that would be a far easier first step to do than taking out the whole unit to check

Will report back...