Mods. Not sure if this is best posted here or in tech articles/write ups. Move if you feel it's neccessary.
OK. First off apologies to all those who were posting in the earlier thread about this problem, where I stated I would do this write up. It's taken more than the two days I'd stated but here it now is - for any and all that are interested.
Parts for our vehicles can be expensive - even more so in the UK. When my indicator stalk stopped cancelling in one direction I just put up with it, for quite a long time too. It eventually wouldn't shift at all to indicate right, not good for wanting to turn across traffic. Well it would, but only just enough to get the flashers going and it had to be held there to keep them flashing. It felt like the force needed would break the stalk off. Time to get it fixed!
I figured it would just be a broken spring, and as I have access to a small selection in the parts trays at work I decided to strip the multi-function switch in the hope of having a spring that fitted. After all, if it can be fixed for free it's MUCH cheaper than buying a replacement switch unit. Prices I've seen posted are $50 off jeepsareus.com or $70 from the dealerships. Add cost to ship to the UK and import fees and tax...
On with the write up.
Tools I needed...
No. 2 crosshead screwdriver.
T20 and T15 torx drivers.
And a pick
Get the direction indicator multifunction switch from the steering column. No pics for this part. Remove the two screws that hold in the dash panel underneath the the steering wheel, then lower it down and unplug the headlamp leveller wiring plug. (It's on my RHD export so if it's not on US models ignore that part.) The panel will come off at the bottom the same way as the glove box does. There are three screws that hold the steering column shroud in place. Two at the front and one towards the rear.
The shroud halves can be removed with the dash surround in place, which is the way I did it, but the top half can be a bit of a struggle. It might be easier to do it with the dash surround removed. If you wanted to do that there are two visible screws at the bottom and two more under the windshield vent cover which pops off fairly easily without tools. The lower half requires the ignition barrel to be removed. To do that put your key in and turn it to the ON position. There is a hole in the lower half just underneath the barrel, you may need to probe around a bit with your screwdriver but there is a button on the underside of the barrel which will push in allowing the switch unit to be pulled out. The lower shroud can then be removed.
There is a metal frame with rubber seals over the hazard button and flasher stalk. Remove the two screws at the top and the T20 torx screw at the bottom. The frame can then be removed. The left multi-function switch can then be lifted slightly and moved away from the steering column to the left unplug the wiring connectors.
You will now have the multi-function switch ready for stripping apart. There are four T15 torx screws holding the unit together...
Hold the switch together while you remove the torx screws...
Hold the switch with one half of the case in each hand and gently separate the two halves. You will now have lots of bits...
This is the size of the tension spring I have used in the repair. The function of this spring is to hold the cancelling tab against the steering column so it catches as the column rotates causing the direction indicator to cancel...
The eyes on the spring needed widening slightly to fit on the location pegs, which I did by pushing it onto the end of a pick...
The spring looks too long when mounted to one of the pegs. It is longer than the peg separation but mounts in a curved position so this is OK...
OK. First off apologies to all those who were posting in the earlier thread about this problem, where I stated I would do this write up. It's taken more than the two days I'd stated but here it now is - for any and all that are interested.
Parts for our vehicles can be expensive - even more so in the UK. When my indicator stalk stopped cancelling in one direction I just put up with it, for quite a long time too. It eventually wouldn't shift at all to indicate right, not good for wanting to turn across traffic. Well it would, but only just enough to get the flashers going and it had to be held there to keep them flashing. It felt like the force needed would break the stalk off. Time to get it fixed!
I figured it would just be a broken spring, and as I have access to a small selection in the parts trays at work I decided to strip the multi-function switch in the hope of having a spring that fitted. After all, if it can be fixed for free it's MUCH cheaper than buying a replacement switch unit. Prices I've seen posted are $50 off jeepsareus.com or $70 from the dealerships. Add cost to ship to the UK and import fees and tax...
On with the write up.
Tools I needed...
No. 2 crosshead screwdriver.
T20 and T15 torx drivers.
And a pick
Get the direction indicator multifunction switch from the steering column. No pics for this part. Remove the two screws that hold in the dash panel underneath the the steering wheel, then lower it down and unplug the headlamp leveller wiring plug. (It's on my RHD export so if it's not on US models ignore that part.) The panel will come off at the bottom the same way as the glove box does. There are three screws that hold the steering column shroud in place. Two at the front and one towards the rear.
The shroud halves can be removed with the dash surround in place, which is the way I did it, but the top half can be a bit of a struggle. It might be easier to do it with the dash surround removed. If you wanted to do that there are two visible screws at the bottom and two more under the windshield vent cover which pops off fairly easily without tools. The lower half requires the ignition barrel to be removed. To do that put your key in and turn it to the ON position. There is a hole in the lower half just underneath the barrel, you may need to probe around a bit with your screwdriver but there is a button on the underside of the barrel which will push in allowing the switch unit to be pulled out. The lower shroud can then be removed.
There is a metal frame with rubber seals over the hazard button and flasher stalk. Remove the two screws at the top and the T20 torx screw at the bottom. The frame can then be removed. The left multi-function switch can then be lifted slightly and moved away from the steering column to the left unplug the wiring connectors.
You will now have the multi-function switch ready for stripping apart. There are four T15 torx screws holding the unit together...
Hold the switch together while you remove the torx screws...
Hold the switch with one half of the case in each hand and gently separate the two halves. You will now have lots of bits...
This is the size of the tension spring I have used in the repair. The function of this spring is to hold the cancelling tab against the steering column so it catches as the column rotates causing the direction indicator to cancel...
The eyes on the spring needed widening slightly to fit on the location pegs, which I did by pushing it onto the end of a pick...
The spring looks too long when mounted to one of the pegs. It is longer than the peg separation but mounts in a curved position so this is OK...