1970 Charger Steering column getting hot.

[Nassau1969]

Anyone have a clue on whats going on here. My steering column is very warm on top next to where the ignition key is. I'm thinking is there to much voltage from the electronic ignition causing this. Its not from the sun heating it up, and its not traveling up from the engine area. I would like to know what you think.

[charger Downunder]

Sounds like you have a short somewhere pull the battery cables and start investigating before your car burns up. I would look at the turn signal switch and check out the two big plastic connectors that come from the steering column for burning melted brown plastic at the joins.

[Nacho-RT74]

do you have ammeter ? do you read bigger discharge than normal when you just turn the key ON ?

[Nassau1969]

I have been driving it now for over 5000 miles since its been restored 4 yrs ago. I have driven it hours at a clip never smelled anything. I had the wheel off recently to tighten down the directional arm didn't see anything out of the ordinary it looked fine. Everything is new, Direction switch, all wiring harnesses were replaced, steering column was totally rebuilt and restored, new ignition switch. I will go over it. I do have a ammeter.

[Nacho-RT74]

once it happened to me that I smashed one of the wires with the column bracket and got the key buzzer buzzing constantly ( got the wire grounded what is not a problem on this because since 71 this wire drives ground )... try to slide the harness under the column to check if they are free inside the column

[John_Kunkel]

This is a known issue, engine compartment heat telescopes up the steel column.

[Dodge Don]

This is a known issue, engine compartment heat telescopes up the steel column.

I get that in my 70 Charger....the heat from the engine bay transfers up the steel column. The column gets pretty hot.

[Nacho-RT74]

interesting... didn't know that... well, I live with an isolated column so, couldn't imagine that

[Nassau1969]

Well took the car out for a good 1 1/2 hrs. The column stayed cool for a good 30 minutes and slowly became warmer and warmer and peaked out at very warm. I'm going to agree its heat from the engine compartment working its way up. I'm still going to check the amp readings to make sure. Thanks again guys. The members from this web site have helped me everytime. Thank you.
Danny

[Nassau1969]

A

[John_Kunkel]

I owned my '70 Charger for 8 years but never drove it for more than an hour at a time. The fellow I sold it to drove it for a couple of hours straight the first day and reported the "hot key" which I never experienced. He wound up pulling most of the wiring out looking for a short circuit that wasn't there.