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4 way flasher switch broken, $370 for part + labor...

TomOfTarsus

TomOfTarsus

New member
I was going for my state inspection last night and, as usual before heading for the garage, I went over my lights, signals brakes, reverse, 4 ways... WHAT THE...?!

And I remembered. Last year at inspection time the fellow had to fiddle with the switch. Now the symptoms are as follows:

4 way switch in normal (off) position - no turn signals
4 way switch pushed down - turn signals work
4 way switch, push a little harder - 4 ways, or fast flashing turn signals or nothing, depending on who knows what.

Obviously there is something wrong with the switch, which has been used more for the 10 vehicle inspections it's been through than anything else. But I had to go to work this AM, 25 miles through Pittsburgh, so I was able to use a few wraps of the handyman's best friend to keep the 4 way switch suppressed.

And of course, the switch is part of a complete harness that includes the turn signal/wiper/cruise control arm, and you need a special tool because of the airbag (in the car, not me!) and the assembly is $371 and I'm ready to choke a few of my fellow engineers.

Any ideas? Anyone seen this before? Oh, and it's 2003 GTP.

Thanks...
 
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Just a bump, I suppose I could try the junkyard too, but boy that;s rough - I suppose I could post a rant about it over on the rant thread!
 
Thankk you, gents, although I hadn't intended for you to go "shopping" for me I sure appreciate it. I'll probably have someone put this in for me, but $125 beets $371 any time. Hanged if know why that switch went bad, like I said if it was pressed 20 time I'd be surprised. I was really wondering if anyone else had this experience, but I guess not. Somebody has to get the bad one, guess it was me.
 


very easy to fix u could get the part from junk yard and install ur self n practice at junk yard b4 removing urs this way in thee event something goes wrong u dont loose ur money remove column housing and im not 100% sure but i believe its a t25 star hex key note ur gonna need a open end wrench for the screw on the bottom its a pain n only get quarter turns but u will save hundreds from diy
hope this helps
 
Thanks, although I'd need to disable the air bag too, would I not? That's one thing I've never done and approach with a great deal of caution. I keep coming back to utter frustration that something this simple could be part of such a complicated repair + expensive part.

Does anyone know if the switch cover can be pried off? I think that's what the fellow did last year but he can't remember now. He got it together enough to work and pass inspection... It's either that, or on some scale between $125 + DIY and $371 + a lot of labor at the garage... and I know the replacement switch isn't worth squat anyway, judging by the one that's in there...
 
Honestly the airbag system isnt that sensitive at all. Just pull the fuse/unplug the module(yellow plug under seat?) My good buddy thought it would be fun to shoot an airbag with a 12ga shotgun about a dozen times. Nothing happened. I tried to tell him that just hooking up 12v and blowing something into the air would be more entertaining but he insisted on shooting it LOL. rednecks ahahaa.
 
Ah, yes, shooting things! Now you're talking! This switch assembly deserves a proper execution, but it's not a very attractive target. Maybe stretched out and pinned to something?

Thanks for the airbag advice. I know it can be safely disabled, it's just that, never having done it before, I want to be certain beyond certain. Kinda like that safety on the ol' 12 gauge, right? You still treat it like it's loaded...

Thanks again,

Tom
 
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