Directionals not returning
 

On a '88 944 my directionals don't turn off after a turn. I also noticed with the key off and out of the ignition if the directional is left either up or down the directional light outside the car is on. Is this on all cars or is something broken on mine. I just got this car but I also noticed it on a '83 I had years ago.

Signals should cancel - they have little plastic tabs that break and fairly commonly.
You should look for a new turn signal/washer switch assembly.

If you leave the switch left or right - yes it leaves that indicator on.
I think it is designed so if you park on a dark street the one side of your car is visible.

Single sided parking lights are a feature. If you park on the road, turn on street-side lights.

No cancel = busted stalk. $$$

Then again you may just need to remove the steering wheel and wrap a bit of duct tape (I used Gorilla tape) around the small plastic tab projecting from the wheel near the brass horn contact ring.

You probably need new ones.

+1 for the "little plastic tab" had the same problem , wild man is rigth buy a new (a little expensive though) best bet find a good use one, trying to fixe it is a PITA. Fixing it migth work for a while but you'll have to start over again & taking chance of damaging other parts every time you tried to get at the turn signal switch out of there.

I did the fix for this.
 

Keep searching searching the topic, you'll find it.

turn signal does not click off by itself. - Rennlist Discussion Forums

Turn Signal Switch Not Cancelling After Turn
 

Fairly new to the 944/951 world and reviving an old thread...

I've seen posts about wrapping the steering wheel cancelling tab with electrical tape to effect repair of a non-cancelling turn signal switch (assuming parts not broken). I attempted to attach a piece of heat shrink tubing to the switch tab itself only to have it fall off during the initial testing.

The interesting thing is that the initial heat from the heat gun almost totally resolved the issue: a little more heat and it seems to be functioning normally. Out of more than 100 uses thus far, the turn signal has only failed to return once and that happened around the 7th use on an 'iffy' turn (may not have even engaged return tab). It has now been over a month and the problem has not recurred. My best guess is that the heat displaced some hardened grease allowing softer grease to flow into pivot points.

...every blind squirrel finds a nut sooner or later!

Peter

WD40 works great at rejuvenating old grease.