Brand new indicator stalk no flashing hazard switch

[wellingtondane]

Hi Guys and Galls, first post on here. We have a 1998 mk4 the indicators would not turn off so i bought a new stalk for it, after it was fitted and everything was put back i noticed that the hazard switch does not light up. any ideas please

[CamperVanBeethoven]

Yeah my replacement doesn't flash either.

I just chalked that up to how the cheap ones are built. If you paid £10-20 for yours, it's a non-ford replacement. The Ford ones are silly money new; you might get one second hand, only to find the self-cancelling mechanism is broken (which is why I replaced mine).

You gets what you pays for, and the hazards flashing will be indicated by both indicator arrows going, which I think satisfies the legal requirement for some kind of indication that they're active. (If you can't see the indicators flashing from the driving position - which means, in practicality, a motorcycle - there has to be some visual or audible indication that the indicators are on)

Oh and ... welcome

[wellingtondane]

Thanks Camper van, no not genuine ford but does flash two arrows on dash, the new switch does not cancel out after turning left only turning right, could it be the plastic bit below the steering wheel that hits it after a turn has worn,

[CamperVanBeethoven]

If it's new and it doesn't work out of the box, it's faulty

If you take it off, and experiment a bit ... hold the body and push the lever up and down ... you will see how it works.

There's a whole complex spring loaded mechanism in there. When you put the lever down or up, you will see how the plastic tab in the middle pops out? That contacts the steering column - when you have the lever off you'll see what I mean. The column is cut like a gear, to catch and flip that little bit of plastic.

If the lever is working as it should, then it comes out the same distance whether the lever is down (turning left) or up (turning right).

When turning left (lever down), simulate the action of those gear teeth on the steering column by flicking the plastic bit that sticks out down. The indicator lever should stay down. As soon as you "turn right" i,e, flick it UP, it should spring back to middle position.

Opposite for lever up (right turn); it should stay on while the lever flicks up, and cancel when it flicks down.

If that doesn't work ... it's faulty.

Don't try taking it apart. I did and all I ended up with was a mess. Luckily, I'd bought two. I managed to break the horn wires on the first one. Lesson number two - don't try to tidy any wires on it that you think shouldn't be sticking out where they are

edit to add: I am assuming you did screw it back in tightly. Not having it screwed in properly would also give inconsistent operation...

[CamperVanBeethoven]

I just realised this also gives you enough info to diagnose whether a second hand one pulled from a van actually works.

That is, if you can find a Mk5 left in a scrapyard in this country!

You could try giving this lot a call, or popping in if you're local enough. I have never used them myself ... so if you do use them, let us all know if they're any good A secondhand working one might cost you more than a new pattern one. But the hazard button will light up (if the bulb's not gone) ...

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=171800&p=1459468

[wellingtondane]

Could the part on the steering column be worn that flicks the little button on the end of the stalk

[CamperVanBeethoven]

Eh ... I can't remember if it's made of metal? If it is made of metal I'd find it unlikely plastic would wear it out! I must confess I never checked what it was made of. It looked like metal to me.

[gotgcoalman]

The replacement in my mk5 doesn't flash.

it's predecessor (before it died) didnt either.(possibly origonal but i doubt it)

The button for the hazards is black/smoked rather than red.

There's no bulb holder/metal contacts inside.

ford took the bulb and wiring out on later models to save money?

The colar that cancels the indicators is plastic and tends to break/wear. (mine has )

[CamperVanBeethoven]

So it could be that That's what I get for assuming it was metal and part of the column itself

Can you still get them, or is it time to find someone with a 3d printer?

[wellingtondane]

The colar that cancels the indicators is plastic and tends to break/wear. (mine has )

I do remember that it looked like black plastic

[MinorMatt]

Late genuine ones don't flash either

[finnon]

a few years back when i had my mk5 the original indicator self cancel was broke, it did my head in coz i couldnt hear the ticking over the engine noise. so had a few near misses with people pulling out.

i must have went through 10 maybe more replacement indicator stalks. some lasted a matter of days before they broke. all came from ford although i bought only the first one. it was warranty replacements after that. finally the parts bloke said ohhhh....... hang on a sec..... theres a sub menu on the parts programme....

lets try ordering this one instead.

that one finally worked till the van was scrapped. the final switch ordered had the flashing hazard button. the previous switches that broke all had the black non flashing switch. and the original in the van that was broken had a flashing hazard switch