Hot steering column

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Shenango

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went to the not so local ice cream joint for a cheese burger and fries tonight. About a 30 minute drive there and 40 on the return trip. When I backed into the garage and shut down I noticed the steering column was hot. Not smoking hot but hot enough to get my attention, around 110 to 120. I can't think of anything other than the ignition and turn signal switches in that area. All ideas of what else to look for when I pull the wheel wil be appreciated.
1970 Swinger 340 4 speed.
Thanks in advance, Jerry
 
Sure all steering column stuff is OK? Ignition, blinkers, hazzard. All working OK
and not blowing any fuses probably not an electrical issue. IT could be hot engine air
coming in thru the steering column or firewall.
 
Sure all steering column stuff is OK? Ignition, blinkers, hazzard. All working OK
and not blowing any fuses probably not an electrical issue. IT could be hot engine air
coming in thru the steering column or firewall.
Not blowing fuses and everything works as it should. I think I'll turn the ignition switch on in the morning without starting the engine and let it soak for a half hour or so to see if it will heat up any.
Thanks for your help.
 
Hot is not 110.

Something has to be above 98.6 to even feel warm. It could just be from the sun and driving.
 
Check your dust seals, hot air will pipe up column even more so when you got your windows open.....

seel.png
 
May want to invest in an infrared thermometer to trace it down, sounds like engine bay air or very close proximity to exhaust system.
 
Finally got back to the Dart today. With all the rain we've been having the grass is growing like crazy. I did some probing of the steering shaft and it seems the seal for the reverse lock out tube to steering shaft is not there any more. I put some plumbers putty around the steering shaft and went to a local cruise 25 minutes from home and the inside column was cool as a cucumber going and returning. The fumes I had noticed while driving were gone also. After I got home I ordered the correct seal and should get it in a week or so. My thanks to all for helping me figure this out.

Jerry
 
My guess was lower column seal. Mine was gone in my 66 Dart and it made a huge difference after I replaced it. My 70 Swinger gets hot too. I need to start looking.
 
I think I'll turn the ignition switch on in the morning without starting the engine and let it soak for a half hour or so to see if it will heat up any.

That will energize your coil & it can get super hot, not good for it or your wiring.
 
That will energize your coil & it can get super hot, not good for it or your wiring.
That will energize your coil & it can get super hot, not good for it or your wiring.

Thank you for the warning. I did, however, run the test to see if the column would heat up without any help from the engine bay. I ran the ignition "on" test for a little more than an hour and didn't find any heat problems in the column or under the dash. Under the hood, the coil did get hot but not alarmingly so and all of the bay wiring including the ballast resister was cool to the touch. During the test my battery was connected to a 2 amp charger to keep the voltage level up. I had worked in electrical maintenance both in the military and in industry for nearly 30 years so I knew what to expect from weak or over loaded circuits. That is why my first thought was a faulty ignition or signal switch. At least my heat source was found and corrected, although only temporarily, until my new seal gets here.
Thanks, Jerry
 
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