K5 Grill removal and Shifter Spring

[PaulZ]

Hi Guys,

Both of my front turn signals are out in my '83 K5. Odd they would both go, is there a junction plug for them somewhere? I can't get at them with the grill in place. Took out the grill screws on top, do I have to remove the lower valance panel to get the grill out?

Second, you know how the column shift lever springs back towards the dash after you pull it back and shift? Where is that spring? Mine just quit working.

 

[GoGoGirl]

Page 496 here for grille removal:

http://www.jatonkam35s.com/CUCVTechnicalmanuals/tm9-2320-289-20.pdf

Not sure on the shifter...

 

[diesel4me]

I think the shifter has a coil type spring in the area where the shift lever enters the colum...the lever on my 82 GMC lost its "spring" feeling long ago,thousands of cycles from shifting to reverse and drive repeatedly while plowing,it wore the thing out and the spring probably came out and dissapeared into the colum or wherever..
I can now pull the rivet holding the shift lever out with my fingers and remove the shift lever --sometimes I lock it in the glove box if I have to park in an area I feel it could be stolen..I should claim it as an anti-theft device and get 10% discount on my auto insurance....

 

[PaulZ]

Thanks guys! That is a great manual, saved it. Hard to believe you have to remove all that stuff to get to the blinkers. I am going to try just removing the headlight surround but it's still odd that they are both out. From the wiring diagram it looks like there is no plug common to just them. The rears, sides and dash lights all blink as normal, I wouldn't even know they are out except I got flipped off the other day from an oncoming car.

That's funny on the shift lever! I was hoping the spring might be behind it, guess not. Not a big deal but I often stop on my steep driveway and it's nice to know it's locked in park. I had to pull my column apart to fix the loose tilt screws, what a pain, hate to get in there again.

 

[diesel4me]

I'll have to look,I think the little spring goes in a hole in the shift lever itself and bears against the collar where it enters the colum..its not much bigger than a ball point pen spring,and stiffer..mine probably went down inside,it can stay there for all I care..shifter feels a bit sloppy,but oh well,it is 35 years old and should be!..

 

[PaulZ]

Well I got to my front turn signals by loosening the grill and removing the headlight bezels, allowing just enough room to remove the bulb holders. New bulbs and remove corrosion fixed that problem.

Found this great step by step on replacing the shift lever spring. Done correctly, only the lever has to be removed. I'll probably end up with the column torn apart.

http://www.steeringcolumnservices.c...-chevrolet-oldsmobile-pontiac/shiftspring.pdf