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 Broken Turn Signal Help

 Created by: scottwkurth
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 Posted: Aug 25, 2017 08:01PM
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My turn signal quit working several times but i open it,analyze how it works and fixed it. it turns out that the gear housing flipped open,i put it back together using a pair of pliers and hold it together with a piece of wire, i damp some grease on the moving parts and now it's working like a champ. If you know how to analyze you can fix it Scott. If you return it,how sure are you that the new one will work properly?? you gotta have to learn how to fix it. 

 Posted: Aug 25, 2017 06:59PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1963SV2
Send it back and ask for one that's not defective???

Cheers, Ian
+1   I believe that contact pad has a small coil spring holding it down to the contacts? If so check the spring tension perhaps it got hot and is now too "soft"? you could try turning it around and see if the broken side changes?

Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch

 Posted: Aug 25, 2017 06:32PM
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Send it back and ask for one that's not defective???

Cheers, Ian

 Posted: Aug 25, 2017 06:27PM
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About a year ago I purchased a new turn signal from our hosts to replace a broken stalk on my car.
//www.minimania.com/part/2A6215/Classic-Austin-Mini-Turn-Signal-Switch-With-Green-Lens-Mk1

Install was easy and it has worked fine until the right turn signal stopped working a few weeks back. After testing bulbs and wiring, I finally took a closer look at the switch itself and found the problem. The spring-loaded, U-shaped, copper piece which actually makes electrical contact to activate the signal wasn't "floating" over the contacts correctly. I disassembled the whole thing, bent the sides of the U inward slightly to give it a better chance, and it worked—for a day.

Pulling it back out and checking it again has revealed the same problem as before. When you pull the stalk to one side or the other, the U is supposed to move with the stalk and "float" over the contacts to complete the circuit for the left or right indicators. When I move it to the left, it floats properly, when when I move it to the right it seems to snag and just tilt in place instead, so it never makes contact with the copper pad on the right side. There's no obvious difference or defect that should make it move smoothly in one direction or the other, but it is reliably broken on the right and working ok on the left.

I've attached a photo with two views. The image on the left is the indicator at the center position where you can see the U sitting flat in the center position. On the right is what happens when you move the stalk to the right and it just tilts rather than float over the contact. You'll have to trust me that it floats flat the way it was designed on the left side.

Has anyone had experience fixing these or can offer a tip / trick for a lasting fix? I have a few ideas around how to permanently affix the U to its white plastic holder, but they're all irreversible and moderately destructive. 

Thanks!
Scott

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Scott | 1963 Austin Cooper | 2003 MINI Cooper S | 2018 MINI Cooper 4-door