Dash pod, horn contact & marker lights

[tedward515]

I pulled my dash pod the other day to install the new odometer gear and warning light bulb that I got a few weeks back. All went well with pulling the pod, putting in the new gear, light and reinstalling it. Although I did manage to mess plastic around the turn signal light that had worked fine but of course now doesn't. I guess that will have to wait to get fixed later.

Now I don't know what I did wrong but now the turn signal lever doesn't self cancel after I turn. I assume this is some sort of alignment issue with the stalk controls and the steering wheel. Any clues.

The other thing is if I happen to leave turn signal in postion (left or right) and the car is off and the key is out, the side marker lights, the front running light and the rear running light come on for the respective side. I'm realy left scratch'in my head on this one. Is it something in the pod, the turn signal stalk, are these problems related? See below.


How do you like the new used H4s


Lastly, my horn contact is worn and honks as I turn the wheel. For now I just discontected the horns but I'd like to fix it. I've been looking around but I don't see any way to fix it other than replacing the whole colum/stalk assembly.



As always thanks for any ideas.

[Danglerb]

Marker lights on with key off and turn signal left or right is normal.

I've seen the contact strip replaced, but its a 20+ year old wear item, expensive at about $200 for a new one, but I think it may be one of the bullets you need to bite.

H4's look nice, I'm not quite sold on the change myself, but its on my maybe list.

[MPDano]

Yeah, mine was worse than that (horn contact). I ended up buying a Euro Signal Stalk off eBay for cheap and it had a perfect contact strip. As far as signal canceling, there is a plastic tab on the stalk that cancels the signal as the wheel is turned. On my old Signal Stalk, it was broken off. You also have to make sure the Stalk is adjusted correctly, there is a Phillips screw that tightens the stalk to the steering shaft (adjust out or in accordingly on the steering shaft).

[morriss]

MPDano-Could you explain a little more on the stalk adjustment? I had to pull the dash recently and after I put it back in, my turn signal isn't working correctly. I have to hold it down to turn left because it won't "stick," and when I turn right I have to manually "unstick" it after I turn.

[MPDano]

Ok, you have the steering shaft (thing you put the big nut on to hold your steering wheel on). Signal stalk slides on this Stalk, this is the adjustment, slides in or out, then use the phillips screw to tighten clamp that keeps the stalk from moving. It's a trial and error adjustment.

[tedward515]

The side marker light thing is normal? Go figure. I never noticed before. I wonder if it is safety related?
I'm going to try adjusting my stalk assembly tommorow when I have some time. I must have to pull it toward the wheel a little, for it to line up right.

Dano, did yours have a ton of copper dust in there too, I was covered after I pulled the wheel.
Thanks for confirming what I suspected, that I likley have to replace the whole stalk assembly with a new or used one to get the horn contact to work right.

[MPDano]

I would just get a used stalk, as DanglerB says, a new strip will run you $200. Forget that. Yeah, all that dust is the steering wheel brass strip or something tearing up that stalk brass strip. My steering wheel was mangled to hell, so it was just grinding it away as you steered the car.

[Danglerb]

Make sure to put a dab of distributor grease on the steering wheel contact ring.

The deal with the side markers are the narrow streets in Europe, when you park you put on the marker lights on the street side so the car doesn't get hit.

[Normy]

I love that parking light feature. I leave it on in parking lots when I'm in the end spot, and people always come up to me and say "Hey, you left your lights on"

lol!

N