[T3] Turn signal switch - lots of questions.

[Mike Wodkowski <wodkowski@mac.com>]

So I've been having this problem with my left turn signal.
Once I push the lever down to signal left, I have to nudge it barely upward
in order to get it to flash. My bulb is fine and all my connections are fine
at the signal lamp itself. The problem seems to be in the switch. Bentley
says "if the 4way emergency flashers work but the turn signals do not, you
can be certain that the relay is not faulty."

So it isn't the relay.

I nearly had a disaster once I got the switch out. Curiosity killed the cat,
I can tell you. I decided to open up the works because I never had the
cancelling mechanism working properly and I just wanted to see how it all
worked. Naturally once I got it open, all these tiny springs and stuff came
falling out. To top it off, I couldn't get the signal housing completely
apart. It seems that the metal plate on the top is held to a post with a
spring and that post is somehow fixed to the plastic part of the casing...

Whatever. I managed to get it apart enough to figure out how everything was
supposed to go back together (ITHINK).

Long story shorter..panicky about getting home, I got it all back in place
and here's where I stand. I still have my problem with the signal lever.

And now my low beams aren't working. SNAFU.

My concern is I lost a part somewhere, because the lever doesn't click when
I try to work the lowbeams. Or would that clicking have actually been the
relay? 

Question 1: Bentley Electrical p. 31 says "the dist. bet. the steering wheel
hub and the steering column switch must be 2 to 3 mm. To get this clearance,
loosen the 2 screws that secure the switch and column tube then move the
switch housing in the slotted holes."
    What are they talking about? The switch casing at the column just left
of the key? I have a plastic case thats held by 2 screws but there's only
one slotted hole, and all that does is move the lower half of the casing. I
don't understand this. And the turn signal switch itself is held to the
column by 4 screws...Please clarify.

Question 2: Are there supposed to be 2 copper contact strips under the large
bakelite part on the right side (the one that contains the spring that
holds the horseshoe shaped piece against the right wall of the switch). I
only have 1.

Question 3: What are those nylon pieces above and below supposed to do? It
looks like they were held in place by a long gone spring. (Bentley shows the
spring running up and down in the diagram 9-1, Electrical p 31)

Question 4: How did the cancelling cam function in relation to the
mechanicals of the switch? I can't figure it out. Is the cam that little
slider that goes left to right. It seems held in tension by a thin little
band, but I can't see how that band and slider did anything to pull the
switch back into position. Besides, what was supposed to push that cam back?

(Of course here's where I'm an idiot because I'm only just now remembering
that I DON'T have a 72 steering wheel. I have an old style with the horn
ring.)

Question 5: If I've really munged things up, anyone have a good turn signal
switch for a 72? 

Question 6: My electrical diagram does not have a color designation for the
brown and blue (maybe its actually gray) wire which I think goes to either
to 31 OR S- (the horn?) judging from the wire rail markings and the diagram.
How is it SUPPOSED to go? I now have brown-blue going to the horn and just
brown going to 31. 


What a long day. Two steps backward.
-- 
Mike Wodkowski
72 FI SQBK
Brooklyn
wodkowski@mac.com

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe? mailto:type3-request@vwtype3.org, Subject: unsubscribe