Jump to content

Turn Signal Switch


rodriguezeddy

Recommended Posts

My turn signal switch is not working right. 

Only able to drop it down to turn left.  Stuck and can't get it to go up for a right hand turn signal.

 

Took off steering wheel and this is what I found:

Switch1.png

 

Red arrow piece was preventing any upward movement of my turn signal.

Pulled this out and spring did not look that good.

 

Switch2.png

Switch3.png

 

What is this spring and button for? 

Was where it was at the proper location for it?

 

Once I removed this piece I was able to get my turn signal up and it ended up engaging a "hazard" light. 

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • Replies 10
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

I believe that's for the horn. It makes contact on a ring on the under side of the steering wheel, allowing it to turn but still make contact.

 

While it's effect is the same as a hazard switch, I think the switch is just connecting both sides.

 

 

I would start with a good cleaning, then maybe take it further apart to see what's going on.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I do not believe that part is supposed to be in that hole you have it in the first post photo that has an arrow pointing at it, otherwise you would likely have another one in the lower hole.

You said it will not move to the right turn position with it in there which makes sense with it in there, I suspect that part came off the back of the steering wheel or maybe it is supposed to be pressed onto that copper colored short post on the other side of that screw next to the hole it is in in that photo.

Not sure why both your dash lights blink, do all 4 lights blink(front and rear) when it is doing that?

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Correct I don't think this piece was supposed to be in there. 

 

Found some turn signal switch pics on Ebay and it looks like I am actually missing a piece or something may have broken off.

Visually it looks like this part should fit into another small housing:

 

housing2.png

housing.png

housing4.png

housing5.png

 

If I put the part into the copper colored short post my horn comes on - so yep its for the horn.

copperpost.png

 

Unfortunately my signal and brake lights (front and rear) are not working yet but troubleshooting this is my next project.

The only one that works is this one and its when I make a right turn signal and both dash lights blink.

 

passenger_hazard_ligh.png

 

Not really sure why both dash lights are blinking either.

 

Going to take it off, clean it up better and investigate more

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

The little housing that you mention that the bronze sleeve, spring and copper contact button mount in needs to be made from a non-conducting (electrical) material. the knurling on the outside of the bronze sleeve is what anchors it into the housing. It is the contact terminal for the horn and as mike said the copper button contacts the bronze ring pressed into the bottom side of the steering wheel. 

 

It appears to me that your plastic/phenolic housing for the contact deteriorated at some point and let the contact unit loose in the switch housing. It took a wild ride for long enough to honk the spring up as it is in your photos. I'd bet there was a period of uncontrollable horn blaring and choice language at some point over this in the pickup's history.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

After taking it out and some cleaning:

 

Horn

Yep all signs point to a housing that I am missing which must have broken off at some point:

Plastic_Housing.png

 

Looks like replacing this part will be impossible so next plan is to come up with a new way to recreate its function.  I've seen some switches use a leaf spring to drag onto the bottom side of steering wheel like this:

housing3.png

 

Turn Signal

There are three small gold contacts on the inside (hard to see but third one is behind metal piece)

Contacts.png

 

This is what the leads look like and I can only see two of them with one empty slot - is this supposed to be empty?

Leads.png

 

I fiddled with it by moving this whole housing into all positions.  I was only able to get the left signal to work and the right signal keeps engaging both for a "hazard" effect.

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I have a switch that looks just like yours in all but one of the photos(one with leaf spring), mine only has the contacts yours has, the other 2 slots are empty just like yours, also your plastic piece doesn't look broken to me, mine looks exactly like yours.

I have had a couple of these switches apart, they are very hard to get back together and it has been so long that I do not remember what was inside them anymore except 2 small bearings with springs under them.

Them loose pieces you have may go inside the switch, but I do not remember anymore, and I am not going to pull it apart to find out as the last time I had them apart I decided to never pull one apart again unless I had to, I remember that.

I would hook up turn signal lights front and back to do anymore testing, most indicator lights act weird when a bulb is out, since you do not have any lights or you may have rust in one or more of the sockets, it may be grounding out and causing the double flashing lights in the dash, all lights need to be working to know for sure.

I do not recall any of my 320s having a 4 way switch, does your truck have a 4 way switch?

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Started with front driver side signal light and it did not look good:

rustedup.png

 

After yanking and crushing this bulb out I am no longer getting the "hazard" effect from dash indicator light. 

Now it lights up properly for right signal and stays on solid for left. 

 

All my lights are rusted over like this so like Wayno said I'll need to get my lights/bulbs front and back working first to really see where I am. 

Going to look to see if I can find bulb socket replacements.

 

 

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Was able to verify that all signal and brake lights are working today!

 

Front signal lights are good now that I replaced the rusted out bulb housings and  the "hazard" effect is gone and working properly.

Wayno was right, since most of my lights were totally rusted over and not working this was causing some weird behavior in my dash indicator light ?

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.