Addicted To Boost Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 I got in my GP last night to drive home, put the key in and started it... and a LOT of smoke came out from the steering column. It stopped after like 2-3 seconds, but that was kinda scary.. and now my right turnsignal doesn't work at all. What happened here??? Also, what can I do to fix this? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrcuttymann Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Well you just blew up your turn signal switch..... a very common problem in these cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutty Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Yes i second the TSS, very common and fairly simple to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulevard Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 Your gonna spend a lot of time on your back fixing that problem. You can do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 im surprised you didnt know what it was Nick! You've been around here long enough, and its such a common problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan1630 Posted September 13, 2009 Report Share Posted September 13, 2009 NO WAY! that has happened to me too! i figured it was a wiring problem, i don't know what else it would be. but it scared me, it only happened once to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulevard Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Hey, I have an extra switch.. $30 shipped within the lower 48 states. Retails for over $89.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 fyi...there are two types. one with rswc (redundant steering wheel controls) and one without. the one with rswc can be found for around $52. I bought mine without for $40 at advance auto. Some stores will gouge you on this part, so compare prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boulevard Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Well mines out of my old '93 Lumina Z34. You will have to double check part numbers prior to purchase. I should of stated that earlier. Sorry! I even have the actual turn signal stem with cruise control, complete with harness, no cut/splices. Letters are a little more than half worn off. I could post pics. Let me know if you are interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 My switch is all finicky...I have to pull the stalk toward me ever so slightly when clicking it for the left or right signals...the cruise is finicky too. So mine is probably headed for this same fate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 same thing here. I had to pull mine toward me in order for it to work, then cruise gradually stopped working, then I replaced it. Mine fortunately didn't go up in smoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 same thing here. I had to pull mine toward me in order for it to work, then cruise gradually stopped working, then I replaced it. Mine fortunately didn't go up in smoke. The switch on my '91 CS smoked like crazy when it went... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 im surprised you didnt know what it was Nick! You've been around here long enough, and its such a common problem. I suspected that's what it was, but I've never had this problem with any GPs I've owned The fact that it was smoking like crazy when I turned the key and wasn't even touching the turnsignal stalk surprised me though, that's why I asked. It still works perfectly to the left though! I'm going to leave it like this until it cools down here and I can grab one out of a swrc-equipped GP. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Just pop the switch out, clean off the grease, bend the contacts and put a tiny touch of grease on the contact points and reassemble. I did that with my cutlass when the brake lights and turn signals quit working and it held up without issue for the last year I had the car. Hardest part of the job is pulling the steering wheel, which really isn't hard at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 How do I pull the wheel off? I've never had to pull one before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 http://tss.likeabigdog.com/ except no airbag or lock plate cover. x2 on rebuilding the switch. only one switch in all of the square column cars I've had or worked on was not repairable. and use di-electric grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 http://tss.likeabigdog.com/ except no airbag or lock plate cover. x2 on rebuilding the switch. only one switch in all of the square column cars I've had or worked on was not repairable. and use di-electric grease. OMG That looks like a fucking nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 http://tss.likeabigdog.com/ except no airbag or lock plate cover. x2 on rebuilding the switch. only one switch in all of the square column cars I've had or worked on was not repairable. and use di-electric grease. OMG That looks like a fucking nightmare. it took me TEN MINUTES to do the job on the last car i did. yes. not hard at all. again... NO LOCK PLATE, and NO AIRBAG. only specialty tool you need is a puller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutty Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Even with an airbag still not that hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Even with an airbag still not that hard. yeah... but it takes about ten minutes to get the lock plate out... so that one is a 20 minute job for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 http://tss.likeabigdog.com/ except no airbag or lock plate cover. x2 on rebuilding the switch. only one switch in all of the square column cars I've had or worked on was not repairable. and use di-electric grease. OMG That looks like a fucking nightmare. it took me TEN MINUTES to do the job on the last car i did. yes. not hard at all. again... NO LOCK PLATE, and NO AIRBAG. only specialty tool you need is a puller. http://tss.likeabigdog.com/ except no airbag or lock plate cover. x2 on rebuilding the switch. only one switch in all of the square column cars I've had or worked on was not repairable. and use di-electric grease. OMG That looks like a fucking nightmare. it took me TEN MINUTES to do the job on the last car i did. yes. not hard at all. again... NO LOCK PLATE, and NO AIRBAG. only specialty tool you need is a puller. Even with an airbag still not that hard. Shit. I just hate screwing with electronics of any sort, which is why I got rid of my 2001 Land Rover. I'll wait until the bastard goes bad (knowing my luck, it'll be next time I start the car) then tackle it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 lol. Good luck getting that lock plate back in there. Definitely wasn't a 10 minute job for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted September 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Wow that looks kinda complicated! Glad I don't have airbags. I'll have to do this when it isn't 115* outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tornado_735 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 airbags FTL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 First time I did this job, all I had was screwdrivers, pliers, and the steering wheel puller. No previous knowledge. I was 17 and wasn't even on this site. didn't know service manuals existed. you'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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