Turn Signal Not Auto Cancelling

[1SGDHORN]

Left and right signal works but the right turn signal doesn't auto cancel after make a turn. Left works fine. Is it a bad signal stalk? Can this be fixed or am I relegated to buying a new/used stalk? Assuming it is the stalk that is the issue and not something inside the steering wheel.

Car is a 1986 325e with the 6 button OBC and no push button feature on the stalk.

[superj]

have you taken the steering wheel off and then it stopped? there is a tab on the back of the wheel that hits a little arm on the stalk to shut off the signal and usually when that arm breaks off, you have no cancelling turn signal anymore.

but, my 86 doesn't turn off anymore either and the arm is fine on the stalk. I even swapped one from my parts car and the same issue so maybe yours is just dead, like mine.

[1SGDHORN]

The car is new to me but no evidence of the wheel ever being taken off. I have other wheels and I see a tab but, it is a single tab that would seem to cancel both left and right signals. With the left turn signal working properly I was leaning towards a bad switch. New these are not inexpensive and used us no guarantee.

[jagerking]

If it works going one way, and not the other, it's likely the switch. The switch box puts out a little arm at an angle depending on the direction you're turning, and it likely isn't coming out when you turn right. Pull the steering wheel and look for the arm (should be while plastic). Using a screwdriver to simulate the wheel cancel arm, it should be easy to see if the arm isn't coming out properly, or doesn't retract quite right when it is cancelled. Mine broke after 30 years, and a used one for $10 got me back on the road quickly and easily. Only takes about 20 minutes to fully replace. Check the back of the steering wheel for the cancel arm (black plastic, about an inch long) to make sure it's not broken, but they rarely do.

[1SGDHORN]

This is what I was looking for. I wasn't sure if the main reason for it not working properly was in the stalk or something more simple under the steering wheel. I have an extra stalk but it is the kind used with the 13 button OBC and mine is/was the 6 button version which has been replaced with a Euro clock. I assume the connectors on the two are not the same.

[superj]

yes, the 13 button has an extra plug on the wiring end but you can just tuck it under the column trim and not worry about it

[1SGDHORN]

So I took off the steering wheel and the tab on the underside that cancels the turn signals is in tact. Picture #1

The arm on the signal stalk that cancels the signal, circled in red in picture #2, is now very obvious. As the steering wheel tab makes its way back around to the center position after a turn this tab encounters the arm on the signal stalk, actuates it and cancels the signal. On my stalk when the tab interfaces with the arm after a right hand turn whatever internal mechanism inside the stalk housing that cancels the signal must be broken. I could manually actuate the arm and I felt resistance when cancelling what would be a left turn but, no resistance when cancelling what would be a right turn, hence, something inside the stalk has broken.

- - - Updated - - -

This is the connector from my donor car that is from a 1985 325e with a 13 button OBC. The arm on this stalk has resistance on left and right turn cancellations and I am hoping this male end will just plug into the female connector under my steering column.

[superj]

it will. when you put your euro clock in, did you take out the 13 button harness? or did you only have a 6 button to start? if you had a 13 button originally, you will have a small plug to plug into the blue plug but it won;t do anything so you can leave it tucked under the trim, or plug it in, no matter

[1SGDHORN]

My original OBC was the 6 button style and my current broken signal stalk does not have the push feature that lets you scroll through the OBC functions. The extra stalk that I have does.

Regarding the clock, I bought an adapter harness off EBay that adapts the stock harness to the back of the clock. A secondary issue I am having is that the clock is constantly backlit and I am unable to adjust the time. I have heard the clocks can be temperamental but, have yet to try to run the issue to ground yet.

[jagerking]

As you've probably now figured out, what you have will work with your car. All NON-airbag (84-mid-90 MY) turn signal stalks are interchangeable. The cars with a 13-button OBC does have a remote feature on the turn switch to allow the driver to advance the screen of the OBC one display per-press. Switches with and without the OBC feature can be used on cars either with or without the OBC itself; obviously you just lose the remote feature on cars with an OBC, but without the remote. The blue plug is the only difference between the two. Everything else will still work as normal.
On airbag cars (mid-90 and newer), the turn switch is different; namely the stalk is a different angle from the column to allow the driver to reach the switch without removing a hand from the wheel. These switches are not interchangeable with non-airbag car switches.

[1SGDHORN]

Spare stalk worked like a charm. Just make sure you test the directional before putting everything back together. I had to take everything back apart because the flasher was in-op. replaced it and the directionals are working as they should.

[superj]

that's good. no self cancelling gets old

[Thecatmilton]

I fixed the one on my e21. Take it apart, clean it out, re grease everything with dielectric grease, and reassemble. I used a tap and die set and screwed my switch back together.