A few more steps forward today, despite my multimeter going missing down there - I'm NOT happy about that!
Managed to extract the broken steering column bolt by careful grinding and use of mole-grips. At some point someone had attempted to use 6mm metric bolts, but Daf were (oddly) still using UNF stuff when this car was made. Robbed a couple from my spare Sheila stuff, so the column can be bolted back in properly when the time comes.
While the column was out, I also took the chance to drill out the melted / seized ignition switch. For those who've never removed one before, this is how it goes. You can do it in the car, but seeing as it was out anway, it was easier to have the whole thing in the vice:
First, centre-punch the "break-head" bolt that secures the barrel:
Then drill into it by about 3 or 4 mm. A 3mm drill is about the right size:
I'm not a big fan of Torqx screws, but a cheap Torqx bit is ideal for the next bit. Find a suitable size that doesn't
quite fit the hole you've drilled and tap it in. The bolt is soft steel so it'll grip as it goes
You can then undo the bolt, probably using our fingers (the're not done up all that tight):
and slide the whole barrel out of the column:
Note that, if the steering lock is working, you may have to release it using the key before the barrel will slide out. In this case the steering lock was stuck along with everything else!
Having got that sorted, it was time to start checking through some of the electrics. The car only had 2 fuses present out of 8, and our local hardware place doesn't sell this style, so there was a fair bit of swapping involved but we have headlights:
and sidelights:
The switch is a little intermittent, but nothing a quick strip & clean shouldn't cure
One reversing light (guessing it's bulb on the other one):
plus half the hazards (the left half).
No indicators, but also no horn (on the same switch) unless I bridge the wires on the back of the switch so I'm suspecting the switch, which is back here for cleaning.
Oh, and wipers:
So, it looks like the basic wiring is going to be ok, just need to find the short on the starter wiring and remove some of the added accessory stuff to tidy things up. That's a huge relief because I really wasn't looking forward to major rewiring!
Now I just need to find out who's moved / borrowed / snaffled my meter......