Electrical gremlins

[EJP914]

Have 72 914 w/ following elec problems. Before I start tearing the steering column apart thought I would look for advice. Maybe its just a flasher or turn signal relay??
Pull emerg flasher knob, no blink at the switch or outside the car. Turn on ignition, turn on turn signal, no blink. Some time ago, something broke in the column which used to return the turn signal lever back to the neutral or off position. Now I must manually return the lever back. Don't think this has anything to do w/ the elec problems. If I turn ignition off, and push the turn signal lever up or down, the front and rear signals light up, but don't blink. This seems to be normal 914 trait. Is the turn signal switch in the steering column the culprit or is it one of the relays on the fuse panel? I don't really want to tear column apart. Car has Momo wheel and I'm not sure how it comes off. Wheel has center horn button. Surrounding the horn button are 8 allen head screws. How does the button come off? Pry it w/ screwdriver? Thanks for the help!!

[RogerU]

Not sure exactly what your problem is, but I know that taking off the steering wheel is no big deal. I'm a klutz with a '72 that has a Momo wheel and ventured into the steering column a bit without messing anything up trying to fix a horn that would not stop.

Pry the horn button off with a screwdriver. I remember taking the wheel off the hub with the allen bolts, but don't recall if I really needed to. There is a big ol' nut that holds the wheel on. I suggest a LONG socket wrench. Once you get the wheel off you can see the mechanism that cancels the turn signal. I remember it being real simple.

Good luck.

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Polly's Patron
Chrome Yellow '72 1.7

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Yeep! Nonononono!!!

First, check to see if you have a stock or aftermarket steering wheel. The stock one is not held on by Allen bolts, and the stock horn button is not removed with a big ol' screwdriver--at least, not if you want to have a horn again!!

To remove the STOCK horn button, you push it in and twist it to the left (I think). It should just about fall off once you get it past the resistance point. Don't just let it fall, though--be careful to unplug the brown ground wire from the back of the button after you pull it a little away from the wheel.

To remove the wheel, you need a BIG socket, and some way to hold the wheel still. There's a tech article on that subject elsewhere on this very website.

But it sounds like your problem is either your flasher relay (a silver box on top of the fuse panel, two screws and the whole panel drops down), or the "hazard" switch. Probably the flasher relay.

--DD

[bowlsby]

No No No.

Remove tbe allen screws which hold the ring around the center horn button. Use a screwdriver and not only will you destroy the nice finish of the wheel, you wont get the wheel off. DON'T PRY OUT THE HORN BUTTON WIOTH A SCREWDRIVER!!!!

The ring comes off very easy, then the horn button just pops out, has a wire holding it to the steering column for the horn with a quick release connector. I think the main steering wheel nut is the metric equivalent of 1-1/16", then the adapter easily comes off.

Take your time and don't ruin your beautiful wheel.

There is a great reference article here on the pelican site re: replacing the ignition switch, (or maybe its removing the steering wheel) it has photos and the correct procedure.

[Eat-um-up]

i have a 72 with a stock wheel. the horn button IS a twist off for stock steering

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Sweet Blue 72' 914
Check it out at
http://www.geocities.com/eat_um_up/914.html

[yesman]

did you try replacing all the bulbs? I had a similar problem, and replacing all the bulbs solved it, and cost less than $5.00!