Hi everyone,

I purchased a new "turn signal switcher" ( the part inside the steering column).

I am having troubles figuring out how to go about replacing it.

I currently have my steering wheel off, with access to the switcher and have the switcher unplugged under the dash so that I can pull the pins out from the plug to use with the new switcher.

PROBLEM:

I can not determine what I need to take apart next to be able to get the factory signal switcher out without cutting the wire pins off as I will need to be able to get the new one in with the pins on.

Any help as to my next step would be great.

Thanks.

 

lol its tricky

Under the steering column there should be either a metal tube or plastic tube that covers the wires going up the steering column. I think you have the plastic type on that model. It opens from the side where it clips together. wires come out of side up to the metal collar on the lower half of column.

The clips in the plastic connector go in a specific spot so I hope you have marked them and their order on a piece of paper you can understand.

The clips are held in with two tabs on either side OR one single tab on the bottom. Its easy to tell which you have if you look at the connector there should be little square indents on either side of the connector to shove in thin strips of metal. I use flattened bike spokes myself they are strong enough and thin enough when hammered flat with a hammer on a vise. Push in two of them on either side pull out clip.

With the clips out and the wires out of the plastic inside the column you should see three phillips screws holding down the plate over the signal switch. remove those three
There should be a 1/4 head bolt with a flat groove on it remove that to remove the signal switch arm.

Note if you have a locking steering column there is a lock plate with holes all around it that must be removed first. There is a snap ring and a strong spring behind it. It's best to buy the $12 tool to remove it.

With the screws and arm out just pull up on the switch it should come loose and pull out. Installation is reverse but you may find it helpful to use a tape and wire to feed it through if you have a tilt steering column.

Now that is for the FULL switch replacement.

There is however a kit available that just replaces the broken plastic arm itself. There is usually instructions in the kit on how to replace it however you do not need to undo the pins at the bottom for this nor do anything more than just pull the switch up to get access to the bottom to replace the plastic arm.

Can't find one of these kits thats correct there is the ford one listed at summit but I have no idea how that is supposed to work in a chrysler. Same idea but without the wires I get them through the dodge dealer here.

 

What are we workin' on here? Your username sake? This is a "turn signal switch"

If so, you can download a free 70 shop manual over at MyMopar. Only glitch is that the displayed page numbers are consecutive rather than the proper "dash" page numbering, so you have to learn to play with page numbers

http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=31

der linky

http://www.mymopar.com/downloads/ser...ice_Manual.zip

Also, here's a thread from "someplace else" on how an A body column comes apart

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/...ght=key+column

On some cars, we used to get to the point where we could lift the switch up, cut the switch wires up close to the switch, tie a "pull wire" to one of them, and pull them out from the bottom, leaving the pull wire in place. Then attach the pull wire to the new switch wire group and gently work it through the column.

 

thanks guys,

Sorry I forgot what I am working on.

This is on a 68 Chrysler newport.

I had a metal plate with 5 boths holding the wiring in place and then there was a little metal piece that just clipped into place with 4 tabs. I removed both of those to expose the wires and I have the 3 philips head screws out of the switcher. (no locking steering wheel, tilt or telescope)

The part I am stuck on is getting the old wires pulled out the top of the steering column and once I get that done getting the new wires back down there. The old one that is still in seems to be held in place fairly tightly by the wiring and I can not imagine that the wiring with pins attatched would come out or go back in....

Is there a way of taking off those metal "collars" on the steering column?

Thanks again guys.

 

So my horrible update.

Signal switcher is figured out. just had to be a littl emore brave in taking things apart. BUT in doing so I knocked a spring loose inside the steering column. I believe the 3 springs each sit with the screws that hold the signal switcher in place going through them but on the opposite side.

This is where things went really bad.

In trying to get the springs back to where I think they belong I pulled back on the shaft and pulled it right out of the steering box.

I can not seem to get it to go back in. The rectanglar collar seems to line up but I can not get the shaft to go back down..... PLEASE HELP!

Thanks.