turn signal return probs!!!
 

A few months ago I replaced the turn signal unit, and I also replaced the relay up front. Ever since the new unit went in the turn signal return just doesn't work. I can't remember how exactly I put it all back together, and these days I'm used to just returning the lever after I'm done turning, but gee it sure would be nice to not have to do that! Can anyone help me out here? Thanks a bunch.

your stalk switch is returned to the off position by a collar on the back of the steering wheel hub. do you still have your stock steering wheel?

yes I still have the stock steering wheel.

A possibility is that the steering wheel is now upside down so that the notch that resets the turn signal is to the right. Take a look.

Hmmm....ok I'll take a look I'm in DC right now but when I'm back in town (friday) I'll look and then post an update. Thanks guys.

the collar on the wheel bumps a tab on the signal switch to turn it off when the wheel is returned to the staight ahead position. see if the tab on the stalk switch is still there.

I believe you're supposed to orient the collar so that the tab is directly opposite from the switch so that it will cancel the indicator whether you turn right or left. If it isn't opposite, it will cancel after turning in one direction but may not rotate far enough to cancel in the other. For some reason my car will make a 90 degree turn without having to rotate the wheel 180 degrees so I often end up cancelling it by hand anyway.

Argo
88 Targa

The protrusion/notch etc. needs to be where the probe from the turn signal switch is - on the LEFT side of the column, NOT to the right. When the steering wheel returns to the neutral position, after a turn, it cancels the indicator.

Notmytarga - question: if the collar tab is on the left, by the switch, it has to be either slightly above or below the switch probe, doesn't it? If it's above, for example, you could make a right turn without ever having the tab pass by the switch and then triggering it after the turn when it returns to its original position. Or can the collar tab be straddled by the switch probe somehow? I've wondered about this from time to time. Tia.

Argo
88 Targa

My knowledge of this comes from hours of experimentation with the switch out of the car trying to figure out how to reconstruct my melted dimmer switch (now replaced and relays installed). Keep in mind that my switch is different somehow from most others being only for 74 & 75 911's.

The probe that triggers the switch return is 'directional' it needs to be knocked toward the direction the steering wheel would be going returning to neutral after a turn in the direction of the turn signal. This stops the switch from canceling when the steering wheel is turned in the direction of the indicated turn or from going another 'lap' of the wheel toward that turn.

It's not a tab on the 74/75 steering wheel - it's more of a gap or notch. The gap/notch in the collar is right at the 270 degree point - right toward the switch in the neutral position. But I didn't take my wheel off again to be sure - I could if you think I am wrong or if more clarification is needed to get yours to work.

i was just spuing generalities. i remove the hub from from the 914 wheel and stuck it in the 911. my arms and like the room.

i manualy move mine back to the rest position, but my standard procedure is to punch it the last 100 yards before the turn. the blinkers are just for show.

ideally, another relay should be put in the system to keep the headlights current from smokin' the blinker stalk.

Notmytarga - thanks for the answer. It seems like there are some differences between our model years. Mine works ok - it's only on the shallow turns that it fails to cancel the blinker. I wonder if the 4 wheel drift and countersteer around corners has anything to do with it? ;)

Argo
88 Targa

Yes, there are differences. I just did this. The early cars have an aluminum ring with a tab that sticks out.

http://www.rallystuff.com/images/pcar_turnsigring.jpg

The tab goes to the left and away from the driver. When the steering wheel is pointed ahead, the little lever that cancels the signal is resting against the tab. when you turn the wheel more than 15 degrees or so, the tab rotates with the wheel and the little lever sticks out. When you straighten the wheel the tab knocks the lever and that cancels the signal.

Quite a gentleman driver to be signaling while countersteering :) - quite a task! That would mess up the system.

Despite the differences in model years - if your signal isn't canceling at all - something or some function is missing. If it cancels inconsistently or only with more than 180 degree turns of the steering wheel than there is probably a problem with alignment of the return collar, wheel 180 deg from normal etc.

I just checked my old switch and RallyJon nailed it - the cancelling tab on the switch is spring loaded and apparently should rest directly against the tab on the collar when the wheel is pointed straight ahead. Because the cancelling tab on the switch extends out when the signal lever is tripped, I had just figured that the collar tab had to be on one side or the other so the cancelling tab wouldn't break against the collar tab when it extended. But, because it's spring loaded, the indicator can be flipped on while driving straight ahead and the cancelling tab will then extend out to the resettable position as soon as the wheel is turned slightly (moving the collar tab out of the way). This allows it to cancel the signal as soon as the wheel is returned to the straight ahead position, no matter how shallow the turn.

Many thanks to all for the help - this has vexed me from time to time since I first took the steering column apart (without paying close enough attention to where things were supposed to go ;) ).

Argo
88 Targa

Hi everybody, resuming this old thread cause I don't have the stock steering wheel on my SC, but a Momo design one. Wanted to ask if any of you has a picture of the collar sticking out of the original steering wheel, so that I can try to reproduce the part and attach it somehow to my Momo.

Thanks a lot!

You might want to search the classifieds....there will be pictures of steering wheels for sale. Some show the hub side.