WillTy3
Salisbury, MD
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Joined: 09/27/2006
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I have a 2001 Fleetwodd Discovery on a Freightliner Chassis, when i put on the signal, left or right, it won't stay engaded around the turn. I only get about a 1/4 turn on the wheel and the arm disengages.
Is this something I can fix or should I take it to Freightliner.
Will
2001 Fleetwood Discovery
2003 Toyota Tundra 4x4 Limited(Dinghy)
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bldrbuck
Boulder, Colorado
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You may be able to do it but a trip to Freightliner will be much easier. I think you will have to pull the steering wheel to fix it.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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FIRE UP
Ramona, CA. USA
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Will,
I've had a few of those mechanisms apart and although it's not all that complicated, it does take a little concentration. Typically, the lever you move for turn sig operation is connected to a nylon adapter inside the St wheel. It in turn has a "Center" position. When you move it to left or right, you, in effect, cock it like a trigger on a gun. There's a counter part to that adapter and it in turn, is like a ratchet mechanism on a tool. It's all nylon and has some nice grease in there so that's why you don't hear any of the ratcheting as you turn the wheel for a revolution or two.
But, when you go the opposite way of the way you indicated you're turning, there's a trigger release that trips the system and makes the turn lever return to the "center" position. Yours is doing it prematurely because one or more of the parts is, either worn out, or broke or, if you're really lucky, a tiny spring, which holds some of the trigger parts in place has come off. When the steering wheel is removed, you can see all this and it's really not that complicated.
What may have happened, as it's happened to me a few times in my life, is the nylon looses grease, starts to wear on it'self and finally wears out or, one of the parts in there is just broke. Usually when you go to the parts house, you get a whole new mechanism which includes all the parts needed. As a whole unit, it's fairly easy to install.
But, like another poster stated, it's always easy to let a dealer do it. I do things like that 'cause I like doing it and, I save quite a bit on the labor side which alows me to go camping more often.
Good luck.
Scott
Scott and Karla
San Diego Fire Department RETIRED
1999 Bounder 34V w/slide, V-10 W/BANKS
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BULLETLS1
Guatemala, C.A. (NOT Dakotas, Wyoming, Iowa...)
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FIRE UP did so a good explanation, and the job in changing the "fork" or the pads or pins where the thing engages is a good 3 hour job for the "non pro-mechanic" (beer included) an involves a few specialized tools, like a big breaker bar and a hefty grip in the gorilla-tigtened nut that holds the steering wheel (that is if you figured out how to take out the horn which might be held by TORX screws) then you will need a "steering wheel puller" which is a extractor with a "chiken foot" shape, then you have to form a spacer for pressing ( with the steering nut) the "anti theft device" a little, enough for releasing a circlip held captive inside this "anti theft device".... once thru thid is very easy to see the layout of the return mechanism, the disasembly of that part (be carefull with the cruise controls) and reasembly of the new turn signal parts... also will be a good time to change the main cylinder lock (good feeling of a new and tight one!).
to reassemble is in reverse order of things but sinse you already Know the logic of the whole assembly It would be a snap, and only a good tighten of the steering nut is nessesary!!!!
hope this "CHALLENGE" help!
I I HAVE A DATE WITH ETERNITY, AND I DON´T WANT TO BE LATE!
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WillTy3
Salisbury, MD
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Thanks Scott
I will take a look at it and decide if i will take it on myself or take it to the dealer.
Will
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FIRE UP
Ramona, CA. USA
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Will,
Glad I could be of some help. Usually, if there's two mechanical minds taking things apart, it goes back together a lot easier. If you've got a friend that's savy about some mechanical things, have him over for a brew and jump into it. Two heads are better when putting things back together.
Scott
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gunny357
North Carolina
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Move to North Carolina. Most folks don't bother to use turn signals here.
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ThurstonAndLovey
Formerly of Gilligans Island
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Probably best to let the pro's handle it. Old timey rigs are a piece of cake, but air bags and clockspring mechanisms that can be in modern rigs can get complicated.
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