The turn siginal switch in my 91 seems to have taken a dump, left turn works and will auto cancel but wont manually. right turn, when i move the stalk up it moves free and drops back down to center,doesn't engage.
I'm hoping i don't have to dig to deep to get to the switch. Have any of you guy dug into the column and if so, whats all involved? any info will be appreiciated.

 

You're in luck I had my '91 column apart today and took a few pictures. It's not a real bad job but you will need a couple of special tools. One is a steering wheel puller (you may get lucky and not need this but 90% of the time you will) and a steering wheel lock plate puller. Aside from that take pictures as you take it apart that will help a lot if you have any questions during reassembly. Also, a factory service manual is another invaluable tool for this project.

What's probably happened is the screws with the red squares around them in the picture below have probably came loose:



Those screws hold the plate that gives support to the directional stalk. When you get a GM car or truck that has a loose directional stalk it's because the screws mentioned above have come loose (pre '90 tilt/telescopic columns have a single screw but suffer from the same problem). You may only need tighten those screws and that will probably cure the problem. Whenever I'm in a column I always but a drop of blue locktite on each of those screws to help prevent the very problem you're having now.

If worse comes to worse the directional switch is the yellow part in the picture, and everything attached to it comes out with the yellow plate (no need to disassemble all that stuff you see in the picture). There are three black philips head screws that hold that switch in. The only pain (side from disassembling the column of course) is snaking the wires up the column (they wires for the switch go down through the column and along the side, and can be a bit of a pain to get out) but take your time they will come.

hope this helps,

 

Been there and done that. I agree with everything the above poster said. I am having a similar problem again from a new switch I put in. Passenger side will self cancel.. but the drivers side won't. I have to manually do it. I will be digging into it again soon.

 

Thanks for the reply's guy's, the pic's really help VtVette, i think i'll dig into it. Hopefully it's only a few loose screws.

 

A few more pic's that may help you out. Once the steering wheel is removed there is a clock spring mechanism for the airbag that has to be removed. Pulls right out but you need to be careful and reset the clock spring mechanism correctly when it's reinstalled. The FSM has all the info about this. I'm sure you can also search the forum here for more info about this.


Once you get the clock spring mechanism off this is the column lock plate that you need the special tool for:



There is a large spring that puts quite a bit of pressure against the locking plate. The special tool threads onto the steering shaft where the retaining nut for the steering wheel threads on, then has two legs that put pressure against the locking plate so you can safely remove the clip that holds it all together.

Once the plate is removed there is the horn contact plate:



Which you just pull out then you will see the large spring:



which can now be pulled out.

From here you end up at the picture in my first post.

 

 

Don't forget to pick up the locking plate tool. I'll bet you can rent it at one of the parts stores that rent special tools. That or just buy one for $20 or so. It's a common tool for any GM steering column from the 80's and 90's. Also be sure to have the info on hand to reset the airbag clock spring. Same goes for the steering wheel puller.

 

I had to replace the ignition switch on my c3 and borrowed that lock plate tool from a buddy of mine, looks like i'll have to pay him a visit again

 

yep it's the same one

 

What does the lockplate tool look like? My haynes manual (85)shows a photo of a special tool that slides to the outside of the steering lockplate. All the standard common tools look like a U with a hole in the center & a female type bolt that threads over the steering column. Does anyone have a photo or a link to a photo.
Thanks much.