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Leaking Blinker Fluid...?

NHOverland

NHOverland

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So I discovered a mysterious fluid under the steering colum on my 2020 2500 Laramie. I have only used water based cleaners and honestly haven't cleaned the interior since spring... so I can rule out something I sprayed.
20230826_140845.jpg
We are now at this stage of the investigation.
20230827_133737.jpg
20230827_133906.jpg
20230827_135210.jpg
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So far the source has not been located. The drips on the lower column cover suggest that it's coming from inside or through the multi function module. BUT, there is not fluid I can see on the module. Without pulling the steering wheel and taking the whole column apart, which I will not be doing right now, I can not find the issue. I am going to clean the plastic parts and see if it happenes again. If it does, then yes, I will pull it all apart.

If anyone has seen this before or knows the cause, let me know please.
 
NHOverland said:
So I discovered a mysterious fluid under the steering colum on my 2020 2500 Laramie. I have only used water based cleaners and honestly haven't cleaned the interior since spring... so I can rule out something I sprayed.
View attachment 61756
We are now at this stage of the investigation.
View attachment 61757
View attachment 61758
View attachment 61759
View attachment 61760
So far the source has not been located. The drips on the lower column cover suggest that it's coming from inside or through the multi function module. BUT, there is not fluid I can see on the module. Without pulling the steering wheel and taking the whole column apart, which I will not be doing right now, I can not find the issue. I am going to clean the plastic parts and see if it happenes again. If it does, then yes, I will pull it all apart.

If anyone has seen this before or knows the cause, let me know please.
Click to expand...
Is the liquid viscous at all suggesting oil, or is it sticky suggesting spilled soda or similar?

Looking at the pictures, it looks like there is a lubricant on the spring(presumably for the tilt function).
Did that liquify and drip maybe?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
 
southern_yank said:
Is the liquid viscous at all suggesting oil, or is it sticky suggesting spilled soda or similar?

Looking at the pictures, it looks like there is a lubricant on the spring(presumably for the tilt function).
Did that liquify and drip maybe?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

That's the first thing I saw.

The source of the fluid is on the tilt lever/mechansism.

1693164753150.png

I'd be focusing on this mechanism.


1693164876939.png

Can't tell if this is shadow or fluid here:

1693164980626.png
 
southern_yank said:
Is the liquid viscous at all suggesting oil, or is it sticky suggesting spilled soda or similar?

Looking at the pictures, it looks like there is a lubricant on the spring(presumably for the tilt function).
Did that liquify and drip maybe?

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
It was oil of sorts. Nothing else was "wet" though.
 
Brutal_HO said:
That's the first thing I saw.

The source of the fluid is on the tilt lever/mechansism.

View attachment 61763

I'd be focusing on this mechanism.


View attachment 61764

Can't tell if this is shadow or fluid here:

View attachment 61765
Click to expand...
I checked the tilt lever, the grease is yellow on the pivot point and the guide. And both of those points are further back than where the drop marks are on the lower column cover due to the angle being up not flat.
 
When I was running wires under my dash recently, every time I had my arms up in there pulling wire through the firewall and zip tie-ing wires to things I was getting some oil or grease on my arms. Being a new truck I am sure the moving parts are liberally covered in it. It has been in the 105 to 115 degree range around here and much hotter inside the truck when it sits in the sun so I expect it to be thinned out a bit and was not concerned about it. It is not that hot in New Hampshire though and it's not visibly running down under my dash, so what the heck!
 
I installed switches there recently. I used a plastic trim tool starting where that little triangle is and worked my way around. There are 4 or 5 tabs that pop out. This picture shows the tab locations on the left side. It comes off real easy once you get that first tab pulled out. It is made to be easy to remove to get to that transmission neutral pull strap.
 

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NHOverland said:
If anyone has seen this before or knows the cause, let me know please.
Click to expand...
Ironically I happened to see that on mine as well when getting into the truck yesterday. Went out and took some pics and it's also behind the lever and at the column cover joint. Don't use any dressing of any type so it's not that as I only use Griots Interior Cleaner and it's non-oily.
 

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