Electrical Issue

[BigSteve]

So I have been doing everything possible to track down what I believe to be is a ground issue. Ever since I got the truck it has had a little flicker to the lights. Anytime the lights are on and I turn on anything else electrical or even just hit the brakes, they flicker. Just a quick millisecond flicker but its there. And it idle I do notice a drop in brightness on everything.

Now, what I have done is the 3G alternator upgrade, checked, cleaned and replaced every ground I can find on the truck and it has gotten better but still there.

TONIGHT: I noticed when I pulled up to my garage door, and the lights dimmed just a bit as I rolled to a stop, I wiggled the steering wheel up and down and TADA, if I held it in a certain spot they would stay bright. Let it go and they dim again.

My first thought is ignition switch. I tried the ol wiggling the key and that did nothing. Wiggled the headlight switch and that did nothing. But doing it to the steering wheel and I could watch the lights dim and brighten.

Thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated as I am almost at wits end with this problem.

 

[martin]

Sounds like quite the gremlin you have there. Only thing I can think of is try moving the harness around that is near the column to see if you can track it down to a particular area.

 

[BigSteve]

Persistence pays off. After a late night last night and tonight, I found it. Or at least the biggest part of it.

While tracing all the wires on the column, I found two that had been stripped about 1/4" open. Like someone was going to splice into them then covered up with painters tape. Cleaned those up and covered up. Then found one that was all but 4 wires short of being cut in half. Fixed that and still no effect on the dimming situation.

So as I was angrily grabbing the wheel and turning back and forth I noticed something, when I would turn right the lights would brighten back up. As soon as I let go, dim again. Would not do it turning left. So I started tracing every wire that was even close to the steering column. Low and behold under the hood I found a ground strap from the block just loose. When I was turning right, the steering coupler would contact. Secured to the firewall and BAM. No flicker when hitting brakes, turn signals or moving the wheel.

Still get a little dim when I turn the blower on quickly and on full blast but very little and no longer slows my turn signals down.