This is my very first post so be kind..
I just bought a 1998 Ranger Ext Cab and the turn signals do not cancel when completing a turn. I have to manually reset them. Is this something I can fix or do I have to take it to a dealer?

I don't even know how to remove the steering wheel so any help would be appreciated..... Pictures are awesome.....

Thanks LeeB

 

Welcome to the forum

The way the turn signal stalk return works is fairly simple.
When you push stalk up or down a plastic pin will stick out towards the steering column, on the steering shaft is a wheel with tabs every few degrees.
If you turn the steering wheel in the direction of the turn signal stalk the pin just moves up or down but doesn't retract so signal stays on.
When steering wheel moves in opposite direction of stalk the tabs cause pin to push stalk back to the middle, signal off.

Most common cause for no return is the pin has broken off, which means replacing the whole multi-function switch, not cheap.

But easy enough to look to see if that is the problem.
There are usually only 3 or 4 screws on the under side of steering columns plastic covers.

Watch this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxE9ukmE8B4

 

If the multifunction switch is in fact the problem, you can save some money by getting one out of a Ranger or Explorer from a salvage yard. You don't even have to remove the steering wheel to replace it, and taking it to a dealer is not necessary.

 

Awesome thanks as you can maybe tell I am old school and the last steering wheel I removed was on a 61 ford pickup...... much simpler.....

I had NO clue hpw to do the new fangled ones.....

Again Thanks.........

 

Believe it or not, the Ranger steering wheels are very simple. 1. Disconnect the battery. 2. Wait 30 minutes to an hour, or overnight is best. This is to ensure you don't get sucker punched by an airbag. 3. Remove two black caps, one on each side of the steering wheel to remove an 8 mm bolt, two in total. 4. Remove airbag and disconnect electrical plug. 5. Loosen and remove the center TORX screw. 6. Remove wheel. The steering wheel is usually on there pretty tight. I've had luck pulling around on 'em but others require an actual puller. Good idea to reinstall the bolt a few turns if doing it by hand so it doesn't rearrange your face. Reverse the steps to reinstall. Done.

 

LoL thanks for the face heads up..... The aor bag scares me but you make it sound simple enough... I think I am going to order the whole assembly it is only $33 it will be my first thing to repair and the windshield washer (it works BTW) button is missing anyway.....

Thanks again.......

 

Just wanted to say thanks..... Blinker return is FIXED..........

Thanks again LeeB

 

Thanks for the update

What part was broken and fixed?

 

The return to turn off the blinkers after a turn.....

 

OK, enough with the wait overnight myth for the airbag. Once there's no electrical connection there is no way the airbag is going off. I've removed steering wheels on Rangers, Porsches and BMWs and they are safe once you disconnect the Battery.

 

Cool story, Bro, but if he feels safer waiting awhile before going after the air bag, then no one should fault him for it. There's no "myth" that anyone HAS to wait overnight to disconnect the air bag, but there is no price you can put on safety. Doesn't matter if it takes longer or costs more to get the job done.

 

I never said you must wait overnight, but considering it's a device that has the potential to kill (hence why you're not supposed to put infants or small children in the path of airbags), I play the 'better safe than sorry' card when dealing with them whenever the opportunity permits and I do encourage others to do the same. Encourage, not demand.

If you feel comfortable doing it your way by not waiting, then that's fine and I respect that. To each their own. However I would appreciate it if you would respect my preferred way of dealing with airbags. "Five minutes to save five dollars"

@Justin: thank you for sticking up for me.

 

I totally agree ... It's best to wait overnight.

And we're so blessed to have people like Justin over here that will stick up for you. Over on another Ranger site you would have been attacked, torn apart and possibly banned.

 

Yes, I agree. Heck, you witnessed the carnage that one time. (clears throat).

As ericthecarguy once said, every time you point a finger at one person, you have three more pointing back at you.

 

Yes, I certainly did and it was unbelievable how they talked to you. Now what they just done to me and my friend comes straight out of a science fiction novel.
My friend Theodore from Maynardville, TN came up here to help me work on my Rangers and I talked him into joining FRF (now looking back on it I know it was a big mistake having him join that awful site) but he signs up and joins the site does the usual intro and so on and so forth. Now here's where the crazy part comes in. I log onto my account this morning and I see that I was banned for "creating multiple accounts" and it says that the ban won't be lifted till September 22nd. Then he logs onto his account and it says that he's banned for the same reason and not only that it says he's banned indefinitely.
Needless to say we were both pissed and blown away at the same time. It looks like it's one mod over there running the whole clusterf*** show over there and that dude has lost his mind.

 

You don't see me running back there, do you? Lol. Either way, it's done, it's over, I'm at an infinitely better forum where I'm not burned at the stake for expressing my opinion. They can all stay over there stroking their egos.

 

Hell no I don't, and I'm glad you're smart enough to stay away from those morons. They're nothing but a bunch online bullies anyway. The only answer I can come up with is that they have to pick on people because they have super low self-esteem.

 

I've worked in big manufacturing plants my entire career. Safety is very important to me. I've seen and read about way too many incidents that could've been avoided if someone would've just taken an extra minute to do something safe. It's better to take a little longer to do something safe than to injure or kill someone by rushing.

 

Exactly! In my book, there's not much of an excuse to throw safety precautions out the window. You live longer and break less being safer.