Need wiring help - steering column

[68bowtie]

Hey guys, I can’t figure out where this wire goes. Dealing with a refurbished tilt column.

There are 8 wires bound in a flat layer (all go to the arched connector), and one single grayish tan wire that’s separate (this is the one in question).

This wire on the right in this pic (aftermarket):



It has this flat prong connector:



This is my other truck (all original), also has a 9th independent wire coming from the steering column, it’s black with pink markings. I assume it’s the same wire, but the connector is different.



From the original diagram I don’t see this wire at all. Just the 8. Is this 9th wire for something not all trucks have?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Manual shift trucks don't have a lighted Gear Select indicator on the column. Grey wires are usually for Dash Lights.
Guessing here -- that it lights up your shift indicator.

[RustyPile]

The "wire" in your last picture isn't actually a wire.. It's a fiber optic line.. It conducts light and is used to illuminate a "remote" object. Hold one end near a light source and light comes out the other end. In this case, it's used to illuminate the shift pattern indicator on an automatic column. One of the dash light sockets has a provision for inserting the end of the fiber optic line. The other end plugs into the shift indicator.. It's only used on automatic columns. What's the gray wire hooked to on the other end?? As '68OrangeSunshine said, under dash gray wires are usually for dash lights.. However, I've never seen gray wires inside a steering column..

[68bowtie]

Very helpful, thanks guys.

[pjmoreland]

If you plug that gray wire into the "PNL" terminal marked below, then the shift indicator bulb in your tilt column will light up when you turn on your headlights.

[68bowtie]

Bingo. That was the ticket!