How do I get turn signals to cancel?

[PhillySpider]

So my signals work, but do not turn off automatically. I investigated thouroughly removing the wheel and column covers and here's what I find...
Turning the signals on and off lifts and lowers a white and black tab switch in the column. There is a brown ring with two fang looking protrusions at 10 and 2 o'clock. This ring spins FREELY around the column and if I turn either signal on will engage and turn off the switch in the column by hand. Nothing appears broken or worn, but since this ring freely spins it will never engage the tab switches on the column to turn the signals off. I have a feeling this ring shouldn't spin freely and rather should rotate with the steering wheel. Does anyone know what the problem is here and can offer advice to fix it? Pics of a functioning mechanism would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Mike

[divace73]

there should be a pin in the steering wheel boss that engages that disc to turn it around.

[PhillySpider]

there should be a pin in the steering wheel boss that engages that disc to turn it around.

Hmmm...so it should NOT spin freely?

[PhillySpider]

Anyone have a spare steering column that they'd be willing to spare this elusive pin from?

Upon inspection i see how this should work and go together. The pin is obviously missing. Likely the PO had an alignment done at a crummy shop or by himself which would explain why the turn signals don't turn off and while tracking straight the steering wheel is at 1 o'clock...

[TX82FIAT]

I fixed the pin and it failed again in a few years later. If I turn the wheel far enough it still works. So, I just know to cancel them myself. Its one of those things that makes me laugh about the car. kinda like when someone asks how I know witch way I'm turning because there is only one non direction specific turn signal in the dash. It adds to the flavor of the car. No AC, old fasion manual transmission, no anti lock brakes, no airbags, crankers, no reverse camera, one side view mirror. A huge smile every time I drive it.

[PhillySpider]

FIXED IT!...Creatively . Since you can't really wedge something like a bolt in there without fear of it wobbling out (if you wedge it in, stands to reason it can fall out) I took another approach. I drilled a hole through the column on an angle to get down through the tab underneath that would hold the pin from above. The OD of the hole was slightly smaller than what I can only describe as a heavy gauge metal sleeve (like a tube about 2" long) that has a channel cut along it's length top to bottom. Imagine standing up a paper towel tube and removing a 1/4" slice top to bottom (much larger scale, but I hope you get the picture). It's one of the millions of left over parts from something I must have put together at some point. Since it has the slot in it I was able to wedge it in the hole from the top of the steering column and pounded it down, through the column into the slot in the plastic ring below that just spun round and round. It's in there SOLID, after a quick test drive it works perfectly, likely over engineered. I'm quite proud of myself

[seabeelt]

Well done!

[jagonza]

any pictures, i have the same problems , but i cant visualize what you did to fix it.

[PhillySpider]

any pictures, i have the same problems , but i cant visualize what you did to fix it.

Sorry, i had it apart for 3 days and then the fix just came to me. I was actually surprised i could even drill through it, but that alloy in the column chips away like butter. From the inception of the idea to the test drive was about 15 minutes . The only thing i can think to add is when i said i drilled through the column is where...If you remove the horn button I drilled at 6 o'clock on roughly a 30-40 degree angle. The hole came out in the metal protrusion on the column that would hold the top of the pin in place, if you had one. Then I pounded in the little rod from inside the horn button hole, getting it to pop through and into the receptacle hole in the disc with the fangs that would turn the blinkers off. PM me an email address and I'll make you a drawing and discuss on the phone if you like...