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Good evening to all at CO. Need help! While we are blessed to have working cruise control on our 66 Ninety-Eight LS, the lever/cancelling mechanism part is not working. The Bowden cable moves freely, but feels disconnected from something in the cancelling unit. I was able to MacGyver a Bowden cable from the actual electric switch down on the column, and route the cable to the signal lever itself. Pushing in to the right gives right turn signal, and pulling to the left gives left turn. Thus all, including the cornering lamps work. But this is a bit clumsy to operate and is annoying to be sure to properly move the cable to manually cancel the signal. Big question, does anybody have a switch kicking around from a tilt/tele for the one-year 1966 unit. I know quite a few Toronados came with this, or has anybody been able to get hold of one and 3-D print new switches? Conversely, has anybody been able to come up with something that could fit? I know this is a long-shot, but Classic Oldsmobile is the correct and really the final word when it comes to answers for this make of vehicle. Thanks in advance to any help anybody can give. Regards, Howie. PS, picture taken before I dove into this weathered car 4 years ago!
I don't understand what the turn signal switch has to do with the cruise control? Cruise control is cancelled electrically from an additional brake pedal switch. Has nothing to do with a cable.
Perhaps you are talking about turn signals turning off when you turn the steering wheel back to center? Not sure if that has anything to do with a cable either? Please clarify your question;
To quote sysmg. I don't understand what the turn signal switch has to do with the cruise control? Cruise control is cancelled electrically from an additional brake pedal switch. Has nothing to do with a cable.
Perhaps you are talking about turn signals turning off when you turn the steering wheel back to center? Not sure if that has anything to do with a cable either? Please clarify your question;
My reply: Pure and simple, please reread. I was merely stating we have one fairly rare option working on our car. I am fully aware one really has nil to do with the other. Something is broken in the part up by the steering wheel, it will not activate the turn signals when the lever is moved for a right or left turn signal. My question was, does anybody have a working unit up in the column, or has anybody made a replacement part, or know of something that could be retrofitted? Do you have an answer for this?
I have these columns on my ‘66 big cars. They’re complex & dependent on aging plastic parts for the canceling function. I’m not aware of anyone making reproductions or replacement parts, though you’re right, with a model, it would now be possible to 3d print something to replace worn or broken parts.
A couple things might help:
1) You can get a reproduction lower switch. I can’t remember the part number but a member here tipped me off to it long ago. This is only for the cars without turning lights, but you could splice into the turn signal wires for that function if you’re o.k. with that.
2) Spares I’ve found are mostly in as bad shape as the ones I’ve tried to fix. Generally you’ll have to get a whole tilt&tele column to get at the actual plastics you want. No one is parting these or repairing these to my knowledge.
3) The Bowden cable from the upper (stalk) switch inside the column needs to move freely and not be kinked in its travel from the upper to lower switch. That means that it needs to pass through a gap in the rubber gasket which secures the column to the dash assembly (the one held by the 7/16’s castle nuts).
4) Disassembling the switch is possible with the column in the car, but it’s a pain since you have to remove the tilt & tele mechanism cover - probably with a few sharp drift blows. If you have time & interest, you’re probably well advised to remove the column and work on it on the bench.
5) The Toro column upper parts (the plastic pieces) will probably swap, but you can’t swap a Toro column into a 98. The lower shaft on the Toro is longer. I tried. The good new here is that most every other part for the turn signal and tilt&tele feature will swap - you just have to re-use your lower column from your 98.
6) You can manually adjust the lower switch back and forth just a little with the adjustment slots to make the mechanical action from the Bowden cable work better. But if the upper plastics are busted, you’ll have to mcgyver something up. Like you did.
Personally, I’ve lived with manually canceling my turn signals for a long while. There are some reproduction parts available for chevies, but I have no idea if they’d be usable (even modified) in an Olds, I suspect not so I’ve never tried.
Hit eBay with a canned search for 1966 Oldsmobile steering column and you’ll eventually come across one.
I have these columns on my ‘66 big cars. They’re complex & dependent on aging plastic parts for the canceling function. I’m not aware of anyone making reproductions or replacement parts, though you’re right, with a model, it would now be possible to 3d print something to replace worn or broken parts.
A couple things might help:
1) You can get a reproduction lower switch. I can’t remember the part number but a member here tipped me off to it long ago. This is only for the cars without turning lights, but you could splice into the turn signal wires for that function if you’re o.k. with that.
2) Spares I’ve found are mostly in as bad shape as the ones I’ve tried to fix. Generally you’ll have to get a whole tilt&tele column to get at the actual plastics you want. No one is parting these or repairing these to my knowledge.
3) The Bowden cable from the upper (stalk) switch inside the column needs to move freely and not be kinked in its travel from the upper to lower switch. That means that it needs to pass through a gap in the rubber gasket which secures the column to the dash assembly (the one held by the 7/16’s castle nuts).
4) Disassembling the switch is possible with the column in the car, but it’s a pain since you have to remove the tilt & tele mechanism cover - probably with a few sharp drift blows. If you have time & interest, you’re probably well advised to remove the column and work on it on the bench.
5) The Toro column upper parts (the plastic pieces) will probably swap, but you can’t swap a Toro column into a 98. The lower shaft on the Toro is longer. I tried. The good new here is that most every other part for the turn signal and tilt&tele feature will swap - you just have to re-use your lower column from your 98.
6) You can manually adjust the lower switch back and forth just a little with the adjustment slots to make the mechanical action from the Bowden cable work better. But if the upper plastics are busted, you’ll have to mcgyver something up. Like you did.
Personally, I’ve lived with manually canceling my turn signals for a long while. There are some reproduction parts available for chevies, but I have no idea if they’d be usable (even modified) in an Olds, I suspect not so I’ve never tried.
Hit eBay with a canned search for 1966 Oldsmobile steering column and you’ll eventually come across one.
Chris
Thank you so much Chris, you helped me out very much with suggestions, this is why I come here, I know the answers, whether it is possible or impossible to find a rare part are the cat's meow. I will do a search, but am grateful at this point having my rigged system giving me signals and cornering lamps. Best regards, Howie.
