Turn signal self cancel issue

**asshanson** · 12-06-2012

Anybody know how turn signals self cancel? For some reason, instead of cancelling at the 11 and 1 o'clock positions on the steering wheel, they are about 9 and 11. So if I make a tight left turn it will turn off about half way back to straight, and if I make a right turn it wont turn off until I turn the wheel left a bit.

It's getting a bit annoying to have to manually turn off the signal each time, wondering if anybody knows how they work internally and how to fix this.

A//// Guy · 12-06-2012

Its all mechanical. Ive taken apart an old buicks before.. but its easier just to replace it if its broken.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turn-signal3.htm

**JET** · 12-06-2012

Sounds like the steering wheel was taken off and put back on in the wrong spot, they they made it straight with an alignment. That will make the 2 sides uneven. Some depend on how fast you turn back to center too.

bigboostingst · 12-06-2012

I'm going with jets guess. When your car was in an accident I'm guessing the steering wheel was removed to replace the clockspring. When it was reassembled, it was not lined up properly which of course was hidden by the alignment.

**asshanson** · 12-06-2012

No accident, but the car does have an aftermarket steering wheel. 1/4 turn of the wheel is quite a bit to correct with an alignment, isn't it?

**Kracka** · 12-06-2012

Anything is possible of the people doing the work don't care.

**asshanson** · 12-06-2012

Yep just checked the steering wheel, I can turn 1.6 turns left, and 1.2 turns right.

In the pic I just took, the steering wheel is pretty much straight forward. You can see behind the aftermarket adapter there is a notch where straight up would normally be. Guess I need to rotate the adapter one bolt counter clockwise and then get an alignment to straighten it back out.

polishmafia · 12-06-2012

Sounds like a clockspring problem - if you race car has one.

And 1/4 turn is a lot to correct with an alignment, but honestly I've seen worse.

**asshanson** · 12-07-2012

It's not a full 1/4 turn I suppose, more like 1/6 or so. Guess that makes sense with my analogy of cancel spots being 2 hours off at 9 and 11 instead of 11 and 1.

And starting from straight up, the rack physically moves further in one direction the same amount this is off, tells me it's a simple fix of just re-alignment.

EDIT: Since I'm a total noob at alignment, is the tire direction adjusted by tie rod end threading? My steering rack is actually pointed left from center, so should I see more threading on the rod on the driver side, and less on the passenger side to make them appear straight?

**JET** · 12-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by asshanson

Yep just checked the steering wheel, I can turn 1.6 turns left, and 1.2 turns right.

What do I win? :P Yeah, you would adjust the tie rods to get the alignment back where it should be. It looks like the steering wheel adjustment is easy, I would drive the car to the alignment place and do it in their parking lot. Then you won't mess up your tires driving there and you don't have to try and guess to a half ways decent alignment to get there on.

**asshanson** · 12-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

What do I win? :P Yeah, you would adjust the tie rods to get the alignment back where it should be. It looks like the steering wheel adjustment is easy, I would drive the car to the alignment place and do it in their parking lot. Then you won't mess up your tires driving there and you don't have to try and guess to a half ways decent alignment to get there on.

You can have some free parts from my garage sale if you want, check my thread. I'll cover shipping.
I'll just drive to the alignment shop with my wheel badly to the left, and have them straighten it out there. I had no idea the tie rod ends had that much adjustment, good to know.

**scheides** · 12-07-2012

Dude it's just setup for NASCAR racing that's all!

**asshanson** · 12-07-2012

Fukin A. At the alignment shop, can't adjust that much, back to turning them off myself.

**Kracka** · 12-07-2012

Just a random thought, but hasn't there been quite a bit of half-assed work you've found on this car?

A//// Guy · 12-07-2012

**Halon** · 12-07-2012

Why can't they correct it? Do your tie rod ends have that little thread?

**Kracka** · 12-07-2012

My guess is the steering shaft needs to actually be disconnected from the steering rack. Center the tie-rods, center the steering wheel, reconnect shaft, and perform alignment.

**JET** · 12-07-2012

If that is the case then the rack has been out before or the steering column came out. I would guess the rack. Maybe a small accident while racing?

**asshanson** · 12-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

My guess is the steering shaft needs to actually be disconnected from the steering rack. Center the tie-rods, center the steering wheel, reconnect shaft, and perform alignment.

There are a lot of unknows about the car, but I knew what I was getting into. I might decide to tackle the steering thing this winter. On the plus side while at the alignment shop I found out it has an adjustable swaybar with 4 or 5 settings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

If that is the case then the rack has been out before or the steering column came out. I would guess the rack. Maybe a small accident while racing?

Yea I was told the rear clam was replaced from being cracked while racing, but nothing about the front end.

polishmafia · 12-07-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by A//// Guy

LOL!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

My guess is the steering shaft needs to actually be disconnected from the steering rack. Center the tie-rods, center the steering wheel, reconnect shaft, and perform alignment.

This is also my guess. You should be able to correct an alignment problem with the tie rods attached around up to .50 of a degree. Anything more, and I'd disconnect the wheel and start from scratch.