On the Squire, the turn signals still work, but you have to hold the stalk in place for a right turn, it won't stay in position on its own like it used to. For left turns, the stalk stays in place. So, I'm guessing a part on the plastic cam is broken. I found this part, which is supposed to be for my car and doesn't look like a very complicated repair: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/_/N-9cinv?itemIdentifier=4916_0_2826_ However, it doesn't get very good reviews on Amazon. The other part I've found online looks more complicated to install, like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercury-1970-72-New-Turn-Signal-Switch-TS37F-Made-in-USA-/360691540987?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1970%7CMake%3AFord&hash=item53fae423fb&vxp=mtr Has anyone ever done one of these repairs? If so, was it easy or complicated?
I have had a few customers tackle this job and it sounded like the hardest part was getting the steering wheel itself off the shaft. Napa also sells a repair kit for the cancel cam for $21.99 Part no. DL620, it's an Echlin part with a lifetime warranty, probably a lot better quality.
I've done repairs like that on Chevys. If you've never pulled a steering wheel before leave the center nut on loosely until the wheel pops free. It could hurt your nose or worse. Don't ask how I know.
I found the Echlin part on the NAPA website, number DL6120. That looks like an easier repair than having to replace the whole switch contraption with all of the connected wires. It's worth a try. Investing in a steering wheel puller seems like a good idea; I found quite a few listed for less than $20. I would rather not bop myself in the nose. Thanks!
The switch is no big deal, it may be easier to replace it than replacing the cancel cam and the old switch can't have a lot of life left in it. The hardest part would be pulling all the wires out of the connector under the dash and putting in the new ones, make sure you make a schematic of what wire went where first. All the wires ends on the new switch have the connector ends on them and just push into the connector housing. I'd replace the entire switch myself if it has has to come all apart anyway, then you'll have one less thing to worry about going bad. Murphy's Law will go make sure the switch itself fails real soon if you take it all apart and don't replace it, that's the way my luck goes anyway.
I hate Murphy and her law. Gotta be a woman! I'll bet it is not too expensive to replace everything for the switch and Mrs. Murphy will be happy!
I just changed the cam in my Brother's Country Squire with the cheap part like you found at auto zone. Im with those that suggested changing the whole switch. The cheap replacement cam is just that "cheap". It is not as heavy plastic as the original. Ours will not hold left turn position. It comes up short of the detent by about a 32nd of an inch so you need to hold it there manually. Feels kinda flimsy now too. I may try the Napa part mentioned here to see if it is better. I see this thread is getting a little old so how did you make out?
Yup, learned that a zillion years ago also watching a friend! PULL,PULL,PULL!!!!! and then when it gave way, and gave him a bloody lip
Well, I thought you guys were bright because yer Mon called you son. I don't suppose any of you ever thought of hitting the shaft with a PLASTIC or FIBER hammer. The wheel pops free and you just lift it off.
You can also borrow a free steering wheel puller from Autozone, etc. I made this repair on my other 67 Country Sedan. Hardest parts were getting the retainer nut back on (press on), and getting the excess wiring out of the way. Worked though.
I considered going with a complete turn signal switch replacement. I decided to buy from Shee-Mar: shee-mar.com. There weren't any reproduction switches available at this time for my application, so I went with their replacement cam, which is supposedly decent quality. Even though I was willing to do a complete turn signal switch replacement, I wasn't looking forward to threading all those wires through the steering column. Plus, some of the switches I saw, on places like eBay, didn't have the connectors on the wire ends. It would have been more work to locate the correct connectors and do a lot of crimping. So, now I've got the replacement cam, which doesn't look like too much work to install, and I also bought a steering wheel puller. Now I just need a free day to work on it, which may happen next week. Tom at Shee-Mar said they may be reproducing the complete turn signal switch in the not-too-distant future, thus I may consider doing a replacement of the entire switch at that time. Tom, by the way, is also a wagon guy and is on this forum (don't know his user name). I appreciate all of the "voices of experience," as I do not want to bop my nose or split my lip, while wrestling the steering wheel off. I will definitely leave the center nut on loosely until I get the wheel free.
