Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum and this will be my first post. I recently acquired a 1966 3.8 S Type and while I love the car I've been spending some time fixing some bad previous repairs. Over the last few days I've tried to solve the problem of the turn signals not turning itself off. I've narrowed the problem down to the plastic collar around the steering column that is supposed to reset the turn signals to the off position. Once it trips the paddle switch, instead of staying in place it moves forward and cease to function properly. I spent the morning taking it all apart and cleaning all the old white grease off that someone had sprayed over everything. While it was apart in could see a small collar on the backside of the plastic ring that I assume is used to keep it in place. There was a very small lip there and maybe there should be more of a lip?

Anyone else know of this problem and know how to fix it short of buying a switch since I can't find the plastic part as a separate piece for sale.

Here are some pictures to show the before and after function.

Thanks in advance,.

 

It looks to me like the whole inner column is pulling out of the outer column. It should not be able to do that. At the bottom end of the outer column is a metal ring that covers a plastic key if you pull the key out, the inner column will pull out of the outer column. With the key in place, it should not be able to move in and out. Can you move the inner column in and out relative to the outer column? If so, is that key in place? It is plastic and it may be designed to sheer. With the column pulled out (your second picture) the metal bracket/tang/finger looking thing will not be able to contact the two little spring loaded levers that release the turn signal.
My car is a late 66 Mk 2. The switch and the plastic ring look to be the same.

 

My column is out of the car. Since yours is in the car, turning the wheel will cause the worm in the steering box to push in our out. If that key is not there, I can see where turning the wheel would tend to push the wheel out. I'm doubling down on the thought that the key at the bottom is missing or broken.

 

Worn indicator cancelling highspot or out of position. White plastic collar is not available separately & has not been forever. I keep a spare NOS entire assembly because that collar hardens & breaks in our sun. The older type with the plastic spring is real crap but you can still find plastic springs.

People here scan & print the collar in good material.

BTW ~ Welcome!








Rare as rocking horse droppings.

 

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I did check previously and the plastic key is in place but another bad repair there. The ring that holds the key in place is missing the locking tab so someone put a hose clamp around the ring.

It looks like the turn signal housing is not centered on the column which seems to be causing the problem. I can't find anyway to adjust it so it can be centered. As you can see by the wear marks on the plastic ring this has been an ongoing problem. The metal tab keeps the plastic ring centered. There is a normal gap between it and the back of the plastic ring so that the small peek you see on the left can turn off the blinkers and not get hung up on the metal tab. The plastic ring is moving so far forward that the two switches don't work.

Really frustrating

 

Hi Glyn can't tell from the picture of the ring but how thick is the lip that holds the ring in place? Mine is not very thick at all

 

there are two types of signal cancelling mechanisms.

the one posted above looks like the later type.
the earlier type uses a plastic canceller available on eBay.

I replaced mine (1965 S type - built 1964), and it works perfectly.
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Post a picture of your switch unless it is the same mechanism as the one pictured above.

 

Jose I think you will find the two pictures in post #1 are of his switch gear.

 

I just noticed it Cass. That is the later switch I believe, quite complicated gizmo.
The earlier switch is a lot simpler and the part that wears out is available..

 

The old mechanism was still a crap design

 

Thin like yours. Sorry that was the best pic I had scrounged from the internet a long while back. Here is another scrounge. I've been collecting old S Type pics for 30 years while on expat assignment & not able to restore my car which is now finished. See Signature

 

but the worn part needed for refurbishing is available and now made of a stronger material.

 

Still a crap design and they knew it. Hence the change on all models including the E Type to what we are talking about.

 

Jose, Are you saying the worn cancelling ring for my switch is available? I did a search and could not come up with one. Is there site you can recommend that has them? Nothing came up on Ebay

Thanks again everyone

 

No. He is talking about the old crap design that Jaguar tossed out across the board. Ours is the vastly improved design. These did not auto cancel. That plastic spring always used to break.

 

Thanks Glyn. Not convinced yet the one on mine isn't crap as well. Hope I can get it sorted without having to buy a whole new switch. Everything else works but the canceller.

 

We have to accept that these cars are getting old & certainly have some weak spots like any other. At least you can buy a new auto cancelling switch albeit at a price. You should rebuild your steering column. The next thing that will fail are the bushes & the horn contact mechanism down the column. Kits are available for the horn and felt bushes are history if one is sensible. If you buy the felt today you will be supplied 2 thicknesses of felt & it's over to you to make your own bushes. Buy the black Nylon bushes.

 

Felix, my car has the early switch for which there is a repair part available. The early switch is self-cancelling too. The part that wears out is called the cancelling cam and it is available.

What you could do is remove your ring and have someone "print" you another. Many plastic and nylon parts are being reproduced with those "printers".

 

None of this looks like the all metal mechanism in my Mk2. It works fine in spite of the inch of dirt covering it all.

 

[QUOTE=Jose;2568685]Felix, my car has the early switch for which there is a repair part available. The early switch is self-cancelling too. The part that wears out is called the cancelling cam and it is available.

/QUOTE]

Jose, why do you think they changed them?

Because they seldom actually self cancel. It was always a problem which is exactly why Jag changed it across the whole range of cars. SMH.