Control stalk questions

[rbuswell]

The car is a 1987 924S. I have problems with both the windshield washer and the high beam.

• The wiper stalk doesn't trigger the washer motor to squirt. I have not tested the motor yet.
• The turn signal stalk won't turn on or off the high beams. It is stuck on high beam. It doesn't feel like it is engaging at all. At least it doesn't feel like other cars I own that have the high beam control in the turn signal stalk.

Are either or both of these stalks known for failing? I thought I should ask if this is a common issue before I take stuff apart.

[thomasryan]

brass goes black with corrosion/oxidation over time.

the column assembly on the vw bus I am wrapping up just has a contact for the high/low relay. kinda easy to get to and clean with vinegar and some 600 grit folded over between the contacts. rinse and repeat until its shiny. the buses wiper control is a valve but probably the same set up on the opposite side on your car.

I would test the pump and give it a few taps with juice applied. it may come to life. do take a small needle to the jets as they do get clogged with precipitate and wax

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by thomasryan

brass goes black with corrosion/oxidation over time.

the column assembly on the vw bus I am wrapping up just has a contact for the high/low relay. kinda easy to get to and clean with vinegar and some 600 grit folded over between the contacts. rinse and repeat until its shiny. the buses wiper control is a valve but probably the same set up on the opposite side on your car.

I would test the pump and give it a few taps with juice applied. it may come to life. do take a small needle to the jets as they do get clogged with precipitate and wax

Good counsel. I don't hear the washer motor doing anything but cleaning the jets is a good idea regardless. The stalks are made by VW/Audi. Can I apply 12 V or is the motor a lower voltage?

Reading between the lines, it sounds like you are telling me that the high/low beam control doesn't have an identifiable indent for up or down beam control. Is it a toggle then?

[thomasryan]

High/low is just a set of contacts. It's right at the opening in the column cover so you might not have to pull stuff off.

Washer pump is 12 volts. They can be quite pricey so you might see if a used one can be had for twenty bucks or so. I would still give it a few raps with a screw driver handle hooked up to a battery. Run it for a bit pumping something to work the brushes.

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by thomasryan

High/low is just a set of contacts. It's right at the opening in the column cover so you might not have to pull stuff off.

Washer pump is 12 volts. They can be quite pricey so you might see if a used one can be had for twenty bucks or so. I would still give it a few raps with a screw driver handle hooked up to a battery. Run it for a bit pumping something to work the brushes.

Thanks again, thomasryan!

[thomasryan]

Detox-it is about twenty a can from parts express but you might find it cheaper. It's decent but it's better on faders and volume controls. Vinegar works great but try to keep it off the plastics. The acidity can make it brittle over time

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by thomasryan

Detox-it is about twenty a can from parts express but you might find it cheaper. It's decent but it's better on faders and volume controls. Vinegar works great but try to keep it off the plastics. The acidity can make it brittle over time

I'll check that out too.

[16again2009]

I have a 1988 924s and had this problem a few years ago. I pulled the steering wheel. At the top there is a small copper tab. When you pull the wiper handle back, it moved this tab to make contact with the motor contact. I cleaned this with sand paper and bent it a little to make contact. That fixed the windshield squirt problem. You can use a small scredriver to push them together to see if the motor works before you start. The headlight switch is on the left side. The turn signal handle has kind of a plastic claw that attaches to the plastic switch behind it. If you don't hear a click when you pull the handle it's probably not connected. Removed the metal plate over the assembley and make sure the claw is attached to the switch behind it. Mine wasn't and I attached it and it worked. I hope this makes sense. I wish I had pictures. It took me less than an hour to fix both problems with zero cost. Good luck.

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by 16again2009

I have a 1988 924s and had this problem a few years ago. I pulled the steering wheel. At the top there is a small copper tab. When you pull the wiper handle back, it moved this tab to make contact with the motor contact. I cleaned this with sand paper and bent it a little to make contact. That fixed the windshield squirt problem. You can use a small screwdriver to push them together to see if the motor works before you start. The headlight switch is on the left side. The turn signal handle has kind of a plastic claw that attaches to the plastic switch behind it. If you don't hear a click when you pull the handle it's probably not connected. Removed the metal plate over the assembly and make sure the claw is attached to the switch behind it. Mine wasn't and I attached it and it worked. I hope this makes sense. I wish I had pictures. It took me less than an hour to fix both problems with zero cost. Good luck.

It's possible that this was self inflicted. I had these assemblies apart to replace the speedo drive cable. That turned out to not be the problem on that failure which is a different issue. I may not have put these back together correctly. This will give me more to check out.