indicator housing moving around column

[lard]

Hi,

After a few happy hours spent upside down with my head under the dash I've got to the cause of why my headlamp relay wasn't working (full of water :shock: ) - replaced it and wouldn't switch to high beam, so more playing and it turns out to be a loose/crushed wire coming out the indicator housing and down into the lock assembly

I will take the insulation off and see if I can cut out and repair that one wire -

anyhow - whilst doing this decided to get to the bottom of my indicator housing woes - basically it spins left/right freely which is annoying - unless you jam it down the column and up and it traps it in place, doing this has probably stressed the wire and caused the pinch/crush e.t.c. - but how to get the housing to tighten up? Screws are done up completely but still spins freely - looking it should just tighten up onto the column and guess it takes the neg connection from this contact for the horn and flasher - anyone resolved this?

Thinking if I get another housing it may still be worn and the wear could also be on the steering column - will try to wrap tape round one inner half to increase the diameter of the column enough to give it some pressure when the housing is done up - can't do it all the way around the column as I'm guessing that it won't be able to get contact for neg - any suggestions welcome!

Thanks,

Larry

 

[ground hugger]

Hi Larry
Looks like your missing the piece that clamps onto the column when you tighten the screws up.If you look inside the housing there is a slot that this part goes into.Basically its a piece of shaped metal that fits into the slots and has an arc cut out on the steering column end.Its a bit larger mm or so than the column so when you tighten it, it clamps the housing tight.
I made one from a piece of 2mm aluminium,made a card template first just to get the shape then cut it out of the ally plate.
I dont think you can buy them new(may be wrong).Could try in the wanted section....Dave

 

[lard]

Hi dave

Thanks for the response - I think I have the piece you mention? A silver half circle that spots into the housing inline with the switch - seems to all be there just guess it's worn slightly

 

[wonderbus1]

My van had the same problem which had been fixed by a previous owner. What you can do is get a small piece of electrical cable about 2 to 3cm long. Take out the wires and use the casing to go over the semi circular steel piece mentioned above that holds in the switch. If you split it down one side it will clip on the edge of this piece. When you screw it all back together it should now stay in place. Its not a proper fix but it works.

Ged

 

[AxlFoley]

I have the same problem, i'll try the trick mentioned above, it does sound like it should work, I'll use some earthing seathing.

 

[lard]

Thanks for the tip! I used 4 strips of electrical insulation tape on the offside housing piece - put them on the piece that goes against the column - tightened it all back up and job done