What is this and what is it supposed to do?

[RC92234]

Coming off the steering column is this strange metal piece. It does not seem to serve a function as is, so I'm wondering if there is a part missing, or it's oriented incorrectly, or...? Behind it are the two groups of wires coming off the steering wheel that feed into the loom (ignition and turn signal).

Please ignore dangling wires. One is defunct wires to the power antenna that were ugly-connected to the accessory terminal on the fuse block and the other, wires to the brake light switch.

Should I just ignore it?

 

[RC92234]

It seems to be the retainer in this screenshot from the manual, but I don't understand... what it retains.

 

[Hemikiller]

The two harness connectors behind it slide onto the ends of the bracket.

 

[Stanglover]

It seems to be the retainer in this screenshot from the manual, but I don't understand... what it retains.

Turn signal connectors.......... I read the diagram!!

 

[RIBS]

It’s just a bracket for holding those 2 plugs in place …

 

[RC92234]

I understand the comments, but from the location of the bracket and the location of the connectors, there’s no way for the turn signal plug to get there (see photos).

As long as it isn’t an essential brace for the steering wheel, I’m ignoring it.

 

[tony-muscle]

I understand the comments, but from the location of the bracket and the location of the connectors, there’s no way for the turn signal plug to get there (see photos).

As long as it isn’t an essential brace for the steering wheel, I’m ignoring it.

Maybe your connector has been modified. As said earlier, the connectors will slide on those fingers. I don't consider them essential. They are there to hold the wires so to avoid entanglement with extremities. They could be held in other ways like cable ties.