tracing a broken wire

[toplessHO]

97 GMC van cruise control has a broken wire
Son was looking for a tracer and came across a solderstick.
Seems cheap enough @$40,but does it work or is there something better?
I have tracers used for communications cables,which may work

https://us.solderstick.com/listicle-circuit-tester

 

[ericg]

Brian utilizes the telecom tracer for automotive wiring

 

[signcrafter]

97 GMC van cruise control has a broken wire
Son was looking for a tracer and came across a solderstick.
Seems cheap enough @$40,but does it work or is there something better?
I have tracers used for communications cables,which may work

https://us.solderstick.com/listicle-circuit-tester

Pull the covers off the steering column where the multifunction switch is and look there. I remember doing a few of those on silverados and suburbans back in the day. Wire breaks where the switch goes into the column.

 

[toplessHO]

I have no clue what hes done so far,just that hes looking at the very cheap tracing device.
Thanks I will pass this on.
Were you able to resolder?

 

[signcrafter]

I have no clue what hes done so far,just that hes looking at the very cheap tracing device.
Thanks I will pass this on.
Were you able to resolder?

The first one I ran into was when I was in my teens and I didn't know much, I used **** crimps and it worked but was a huge pain because I didn't take anything apart so no room to get crimper in there. Now that I'm older and a little smarter I would just replace the whole multi function switch. They aren't too expensive and not that hard to change from what I remember.

 

[toplessHO]

He reported back that its not switch,its the pulse wire

 

[signcrafter]

He reported back that its not switch,its the pulse wire

I'm not familiar with what exactly the pulse wire is. Did he find the break or just saying he knows which wire the break is in? Does this pulse wire go to the multi function switch? I think that switch had 2 plugs with a few wires in each if I remember right.

 

[toplessHO]

If its the wire I think it is,it goes from module to the PCM

 

[johninct]

I think Power Probe makes something but never used one.

 

[Schurkey]

97 GMC van cruise control has a broken wire

Older-style cruise-control on the turnsignal/windshield wiper switch? Broken wires are common as dirt. Fix is fairly simple--buy the CORRECT assembly--they're different depending on vehicle and windshield wiper options. Unplug the cruise connector under the dash. Tie a string to the connector at the bottom, wrap it with some tape. There is a hole in the connector for this purpose. You need it to fish the new wire back through the steering column. Yank the turn-signal stalk right out of the column--spring loaded retention, just grab and pull. Pull the old wire up. Untie. Tie to the new wire. Pull back down. Jam the new turn-signal stalk back into the column. Plug the connector back into the harness under the dash. Have an adult beverage, you're done.


Photos from an '89 K1500, but I think yours is similar.
Under-dash connector. The end with the small-gauge wires is what you're removing.


Tied to a sturdy string, or another wire. Taped to make it smooth as it's pulled up--then back down--through the column.


Where the wires typically break--right at the turnsignal stalk.

 

[toplessHO]

and you skipped right over the part that says not the switch wiring

Neighbor has a power probe,will not generate a signal to trace a wire

 

[signcrafter]

and you skipped right over the part that says not the switch wiring

Neighbor has a power probe,will not generate a signal to trace a wire

You said it's not the switch but didn't say how you came to that conclusion. Or what the pulse wire is and how he found that wire is bad.

A power probe or the power probe wire tracer? A common power probe won't trace wires but they make a tracer, https://www.amazon.com/Power-Probe-PPRECT3000B-ECT-3000/dp/B073FFDZY3/?tag=atomicindus08-20.

 

[toplessHO]

I guess from lack of response,no one here has used that $40 tracer.
The Power Probe neighbor has doesnt do tracing.
I havent been around when testing was in progress so dont know how he arrived at this.

Im guessing its dk blue C1-12