Tow/Haul Mode

drmwvr · January 9, 2006

The tow haul mode on my 2000, 1/2 ton 2wd Suburban stopped working about a year ago. While detailing my truck this weekend I noticed that my gear lever boot (the one on the steering column) was torn so I took it off to see what I needed to do to replace it.

When I removed the boot, I noticed an orange wire running from the steering column to the gear lever that had been cut in half, probably by the gear lever mechanism. It appears to me that this is the cause of my non-functional tow/haul mode.

I tried to splice the wires back together but there really is not enough slack and space inside the column to get a good splice and on top of that, there are two, really small wires inside the orange jacket and I'm not sure if they need to be hooked up in a certain order and they are not marked.

So the question is: is there a way to splice the wires that I am not seeing or would it be easier to get a new wire (if so is there a part #) and re-wire the button?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Clay

GM-Tech · January 9, 2006

It's just a simple make/break contact switch, so it wouldn't matter which order the wires were reconnected to the switch. You could add a small piece of wire to lengthen it a bit so it could be spliced back together. Otherwise, you'd just have to replace it.

drmwvr · January 9, 2006

It's just a simple make/break contact switch, so it wouldn't matter which order the wires were reconnected to the switch. You could add a small piece of wire to lengthen it a bit so it could be spliced back together. Otherwise, you'd just have to replace it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the quick reply!

The problem is that the portion of the wire that leads back into the dash is really short due to where it was pinched. With the steering column cover on, there really is no way to get inside the hole from the shifter and splice the wire.

Can the steering column be removed without taking off the steering wheel?

Clay

GM-Tech · January 9, 2006

Can the steering column be removed without taking off the steering wheel?

Sure but make absolutely, positively sure you don't allow the steering wheel to turn while the column is disconnected or you'll break the SIR coil under the wheel.

drmwvr · January 10, 2006

Can the steering column be removed without taking off the steering wheel?

Sure but make absolutely, positively sure you don't allow the steering wheel to turn while the column is disconnected or you'll break the SIR coil under the wheel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just to be clear, I meant the plastic cover surrounding the steering column. Does your warning still apply? Also, what is a SIR coil?

Thanks,

Clay

GM-Tech · January 10, 2006

Sure, the plastic cover can be removed and no, it's not the same as the column. They're just plastic covers that snap together and the bottom one has a couple screws.

No, the warning does not apply in this case. The SIR coil is what allows you to turn your steering wheel with the air bag hard wired to the rest of the system. It's a big coil of flat wire under the wheel.

drmwvr · January 10, 2006

Sure, the plastic cover can be removed and no, it's not the same as the column. They're just plastic covers that snap together and the bottom one has a couple screws.

No, the warning does not apply in this case. The SIR coil is what allows you to turn your steering wheel with the air bag hard wired to the rest of the system. It's a big coil of flat wire under the wheel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info. I think that the removal of the plastic cover will give me enough room to get to the wire.