Solution for your flaccid Turn Signal Stalk!- no Dremel required

[nicknack280]

A lot of our old benzes have this issue. Turn signal stalk doesn't hold in place and its super annoying holding the thing while making turns/lane changes.

I've searched around the web and the same answer comes up. Take a dremel tool and grind out some grooves for the rollers to settle in. But I don't have a dremel! I tried using a drill but that was a fail.

If someone else posted this same solution ahead of me then here is a repeat because I couldn't find it anywhere on the web. here goes-

So I noticed that while toying with the damn thing, I loosened that main visible spring and it got worse. So I simply reversed the process. By making the spring tighter, it holds the stalk in place and the reset still works. Best of all, its a 5 minutes fix. No Dremel Required.

Tools needed:
Spring grade metal wire (I used a small key ring)
a Plier and a Needle Nose Plier

Long story short, I shaped the Key ring to tighten the tension on the existing spring and voila! Not only does the turn signal stalk hold, it auto resets AND it has that nice tactile click feel again!

(disclaimer-- i haven't tested for clearance yet. it's too dark to work on my car and I was so excited to actually have something to share to the community for once)

If any of the members have other tweaks on my solution, please share. If you have a source for an exact spring replacement, please share. Or if you have another way of increasing the tension on that spring other than using a key ring,.. please please share. Also let me know if my solution might cause other problems that I can't foresee right now because I'm 2 glasses of wine in. Thanks!

I posted a video on this

https://youtu.be/eW9zTW7Yo_g

[optimusprime]

nick nack thats a good bit of information And worth a sticky.Thank you for that tip .

[Squiggle Dog]

This is really cool! I should try this in my roommate's W111. The old one wouldn't stay in place, and the replacement one won't cancel.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

I love pictures... But I really love MOVING pictures! Very cool. Thank you for sharing the good stuff!

[nicknack280]

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

This is really cool! I should try this in my roommate's W111. The old one wouldn't stay in place, and the replacement one won't cancel.

Yes try the fix! Also, post pix or video of your results. I want to see how you made your spring tensioner.

My design sux and I know someone out there can make a more compact looking one.

I couldn't find my needle nose plier so I made mine with using a dull wire cutter. LOL

[Tomguy]

Nice wrench! I didn't use a Dremel, just a chain saw file.

[nicknack280]

Update: made a slightly smaller spring. Boom fixed it. plenty of clearance. And since I had a spare stalk to practice on, all I had to do is remove the two mounting screws pull the stalk out just enough to pop the screw tensioner on, and BAM. Success. Works like new now and the auto cancel works perfect.

Now if only i can figure out why the damn thing is blinking fast. I feel like i've tried everything the forum suggested.

[Shortsguy1]

Originally Posted by nicknack280

...
Now if only i can figure out why the damn thing is blinking fast. I feel like i've tried everything the forum suggested.

I thought that was an indication of some problem inside the flasher relay/hazard switch box in the center dash. I vaguely recall that one of the electrical components begins to fail, resulting in the fast flash. I thought the normal solution was to replace the hazard switch box, though a new one is probably pretty spendy.

What have you tried already?

[vandor]

>Now if only i can figure out why the damn thing is blinking fast.

I had the same problem, and I had to replace the flasher to fix it. I used an electronic '550' flasher with flat spade terminals and made wire pigtails to adapt it to the MB connector. Only 2 of the 3 terminals are used. Has worked great for months, both with turn signals and hazard lights.

[Shortsguy1]

Vandor
Could you clarify if you were able to keep the original hazard light switch, so that the new 550 relay is totally hidden behind the dash/console? Do you recall which terminals you used on the 550? Thanks.

[nicknack280]

Originally Posted by Shortsguy1

Vandor
Could you clarify if you were able to keep the original hazard light switch, so that the new 550 relay is totally hidden behind the dash/console? Do you recall which terminals you used on the 550? Thanks.

I had 2 spare hazard switches that I tried and it didn't work. Unless those happened to be broken as well.

what is a 550 relay?

[vandor]

> Could you clarify if you were able to keep the original hazard light switch, so that the new 550 relay is totally hidden behind the dash/console?

The only thing I changed was the flasher, and everything works fine, turn signals and hazard lights.

> Do you recall which terminals you used on the 550? Thanks.

No, but I can take a pic if you like.

>what is a 550 relay?[/QUOTE]

The 550 flasher is a turn signal flasher used by a lot of cars in the 70s and 80s. It is round and has 3 terminals.

[vandor]

Here is a pic. The MB connector is at the bottom, only two of the 3 terminals are used. The unused terminal is on the right. The flasher also has 3 connections, but only 2 are used. The terminal at the top is just covered in heat-shink tubing. This terminal is for the dash light, but for cars that do not have separate left and right lights in the dash, as it's on when either turn signal is flashing.

[Shortsguy1]

Thanks for answering my question and for the photo. That helps a lot.

(And not to thread hijack, but are you still looking for a shift indicator cable? I figured out how to fix the one in my w115 and I assume cars of the similar vintage are similar. I had to buy the necessary stuff and have a ton extra left over. PM me if you like)