Turn signal switch problem

When your turn signal keeps on ticking after you switched it off, chances are that the handle on the steering column is defective. You could of course replace the handle, but it is not very hard to fix.
First you have to remove the steering wheel with the airbag. There's a Dutch site that explains how: airbag removal
If anyone knows an English site with the instructions, let me know and I will place the link.

At first I had a hard time unlocking the airbag. With this picture you can see what it looks like inside the steering wheel when the airbag is removed:

When you insert the screwdriver in the rear of the steering wheel, you have to push the spring down by pulling the screwdriver handle up. The screwdriver will be at the circle at the other side of the metal plate.

After removing the upper and lower trim, you can remove the switches. The switch can be opened by removing two torx screws and unlocking 4 clips with a small screwdriver. You can open it safely. No springs will jump out or something.

Inside the switch you'll see some copper tracks. Between the tracks there are some holes. These holes are very likely plugged with grease and copper scrapings. This is the actual problem inside the switch. It shorts the tracks. Clean it and add some new silicon grease after that.

Also clean copper plates on the the switch handle:

Put everything back in the car and that's it!

One warning:

Before you start with the repair disconnect the battery. And before reconnecting the battery, switch on the ignition. No one should be inside the car when you reconnect the battery. Although I find it very hard to believe that the airbag will go when you reconnect the battery, some say it might happen. If anyone has any experience with this: let me know. I just don't believe that the airbag electronics knows that the airbag has been removed when the battery is disconnected.
I disconnected the airbag several times and had no problems at all.

Page Last updated: 02/25/2006