Hello all, it's been awhile since I've last posted. Anyway, if anyone could help me I'd really appreciate it. Basically, I was trying to replace my turn signal switch. To do this, I got the steering wheel and most of the stuff behind it off. After the yellow coil and lock plate, however, there is another yellow thing that connects to the turn signal switch. It is connected on the back to a bunch of wires that run all the way down the column. Any ideas on how to get that piece out? I would much appreciate it. I was stuck for two days without being able to drive, but finally just decided to stick everything back on there.

Jonathan
1994 Firehawk

 

That thing behind the airbag coil with all the wires going to it is the turn signal switch.

To remove it you must take out 3 screws holding it into the column and also remove the hazard ****. Then there is a little metal tab/bracket with a screw in it to hold the multi function lever to the switch.

The hard part is running the wires through the column. Getting the old ones out is easy, just cut the plug off the end and pull it through. Getting the new ones through with the plug on the end is a PITA.

 

What I'm replacing is the switch connected to that (it's kind of to the side of the column, so I don't want to have to cut the wires on the piece in the column. The part I'm replacing has the bracket connected to it and is the piece that you put the actual turn signal lever into. Anyway, I got lost and had no idea how to thread that thing through or even where to disconnect it. Thanks for the reply!

 

um, you said turn signal switch, but now you are describing the wiper switch?

 

It's all the same thing - cruise control, wiper, mist, turn signal. There is a switch, semi-external to the column, that the lever connects directly into. That, in turn, is connected to a yellow piece that's actually in the column.

 

no its not

cruise is the lever itself, wiper/mist is what the lever goes into, and the turn signal is the yellow piece in the middle

 

Dave is exactly correct here.

 

If you are talking about the wiper switch,(the one that the signal arm plugs into right in front of the tilt arm) you might need to remove the column shroud to access the switch.

To do this you will need to pull the steering wheel, remove the snap ring and air bag coil, remove the lock plate, remove signal switch (3 screws), remove the ignition lock (1 torx screw), remove the signal lever, and pull off column shroud(3 torx screws. You won't be able to remove the shroud completely unless you pull out or cut the wires that are in the way. You will see what I mean when you get it off. I dont Know exactly how to get the old wiper switch out. I know it hinges inside the shroud, but I dont know if it is rivited or screwed. Use your best judgement when removing the old switch and rember that you will need to reuse the shroud and attach the new switch. Extreme use of force, heat and otherwise distruction is not recomended.


If you are talking about the actual signal switch,(the white assembly with the yellow backing located just behind the lock plate) then you want to replace the entire switch assembly.

To do it you need to remove (3) screws that hold it in the column, disconnect it from the wiring harness under the dash, (you can tell which one it is by looking at the harness while someone else tugs on the signal switch. the one that moves/moves most is the one you need to unplug) wrap the connector with electrical tape, (to make the trip up the column smoother) and yank it out with care. To make it easier to feed the new switch into the column attach a wire to the old connector before you pull it out of the column. I used bailing wire and it worked ok.

To put the new one in tape the connector, attach the wire you fed up with the old connector, and feed the new one down the shaft by pulling on the wire you attached. Easier said than done. Once you have it down the column, remove the tape and plug it in. attach the switch with the (3) screws you removed, and assemble the column the way you took it apart.

If you need any other help or parts (i.e. signal switch, wiper switch) let me know.