Broken Hazard Switch Repair How-to!

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by SA-S10

I replaced the stock wheel with an APC steering wheel. It turns out that the installation kit I had was missing parts. (Not to mention that I HAD an airbag!) Anyway, it took me about 3 hours to get it to work.

Hope you never get ticketed for that! That's a 10k fine!

[cmorin543]

Quote: Originally Posted by rlith

Hope you never get ticketed for that! That's a 10k fine!

damn, thats alot o $$$... my airbag doesn't work now anyway ever since i swaped the engine and fried half the computer...lol

[SA-S10]

Quote: Originally Posted by rlith

Hope you never get ticketed for that! That's a 10k fine!

Here is what I got from the Texas DPS Site:

§ 547.614. RESTRICTIONS ON AIRBAGS. (a) A person
commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(1) installs or purports to install an airbag in a
vehicle; and
(2) does not install an airbag that meets all
applicable federal safety regulations for an airbag installed in a
vehicle of that make, model, and year.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

It's the only mention of airbags in the transportation code, and I don't think this applies to me.

[Deviant Mini]

that may work almost as good as the mexican guy that came in the other day and had paper folded up and jammed in there.

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by SA-S10

Here is what I got from the Texas DPS Site:

§ 547.614. RESTRICTIONS ON AIRBAGS. (a) A person
commits an offense if the person knowingly:
(1) installs or purports to install an airbag in a
vehicle; and
(2) does not install an airbag that meets all
applicable federal safety regulations for an airbag installed in a
vehicle of that make, model, and year.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

It's the only mention of airbags in the transportation code, and I don't think this applies to me.

Check the federal Statutes...Federal statutes is where it really nails you.

[SA-S10]

Quote: Originally Posted by rlith

Check the federal Statutes...Federal statutes is where it really nails you.

This is what I found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web Site:

"Since model year 1998, all passenger cars are required to have frontal air bags for the driver and the right front passenger seating positions. Starting in model year 1999, all light trucks (pickups, vans and SUVs) are required to have frontal air bags for the driver and the right front passenger."

I have a 1996 S-10.

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by SA-S10

This is what I found on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web Site:

"Since model year 1998, all passenger cars are required to have frontal air bags for the driver and the right front passenger seating positions. Starting in model year 1999, all light trucks (pickups, vans and SUVs) are required to have frontal air bags for the driver and the right front passenger."

I have a 1996 S-10.

That site isn't going to give you the statute in question...I don't have the exact statute number (check your local public library) But essentially it says that it is unlawful to remove an airbag from an airbag equipped vehicle...Fines can be up to 10,000.

[1cln_sdime]

im very glad i seen this it saved me 100 b/c i was about to order a new switch but im going to order this part tomorrow thanx. this should be sticky

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by 1cln_sdime

im very glad i seen this it saved me 100 b/c i was about to order a new switch but im going to order this part tomorrow thanx. this should be sticky

How'd it work out?

[BigDuVall]

Go to a junkyard and just yank one out with some pliers. They'll probably charge you $5, or you could just slip it into your pocket.

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigDuVall

Go to a junkyard and just yank one out with some pliers. They'll probably charge you $5, or you could just slip it into your pocket.

So the solution is to steal?

[BigDuVall]

Quote: Originally Posted by rlith

So the solution is to steal?

Well, just for those people who think $5 is too much!

[SA-S10]

Most of the "pick it yourself" places charge you a dollar or two to get in anyway. Just my 2 cents, I am not for or against stealing.

[BrianB 0psi]

Quote: Originally Posted by KlumperSS

Is the switch black from gm parts direct....? cause the factory one is red?? that damn thing broke off and we ended up getting one from a 98+ s-10 at the junk yard and messed around with the connections to make it work the sprayer and wipers were like backwards....so we just replaced the whole hazard switch with the blinker stalk.. it was only $25 at the junk yard....100 at auto zone...but with this i think it would of saved us alotttttt of time.....

Thats funny...
I broke my switch and never thought about fixing it. But hell yeah i'm glad there is a cheap way of fixing it. oh yeah nice how-to

[PHLATND96]

Ok Im Not Tryin To Be A Dumba$$ Here, But If This Hazard Switch Is Broken....will This Cause Your Turn Signals To Not Work Also???

[rlith]

It can...

[PHLATND96]

Well When I Bought The Truck I Seen The Hazard Switch Musta Been Broke, Cuz He Has Electrical Tape Around The Column Holding The Hazard Switch In? ...but My Turn Signals Dont Work? So I Need To Check The Fuse Box To See If He Removed The Fuses...if Not Im Hoping By Replacing The Hazard Switch It Will Correct My Problem?

[SA-S10]

Quote: Originally Posted by PHLATND96

Well When I Bought The Truck I Seen The Hazard Switch Musta Been Broke, Cuz He Has Electrical Tape Around The Column Holding The Hazard Switch In? ...but My Turn Signals Dont Work? So I Need To Check The Fuse Box To See If He Removed The Fuses...if Not Im Hoping By Replacing The Hazard Switch It Will Correct My Problem?

It should, if not check the flasher to see if it's there. When my hazard switch broke I had to take out the flasher until I realized how to stop the lights from flashing (I shoved a piece of plastic in the switch until I got it replaced). Hope this helps.

[PHLATND96]

Quote: Originally Posted by SA-S10

It should, if not check the flasher to see if it's there. When my hazard switch broke I had to take out the flasher until I realized how to stop the lights from flashing (I shoved a piece of plastic in the switch until I got it replaced). Hope this helps.

Where is the flacher located on a 96'????doh!!!!!!
is it on the fuse box panel?

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by PHLATND96

Where is the flacher located on a 96'????doh!!!!!!
is it on the fuse box panel?

Behind the knee panel just to the left of the power outlet/cigarette lighter. You will see 2, the one of the left is the blinker relay, the one on the right is hazards..

[PHLATND96]

thanks...well im assuming il need the blinker relay since its my turn signals im worried bout....... but i wont know if thats bad until i install the replacement hazard switch....this was a great how-to...it only took me like 5 mins to yank that lil' bugger outta there....just gotta hit up a GM Parts Dept for the switch...LOL

THANKS FOR THE INFO

[thegreat682]

Thanks for this guide! I was tired of rollin' with duct tape.

[Corey497]

MINE DIDNT WORK!!!!
on the first attempt only the right side blinked
returned it for same PART different PART NUMBER
and...... neither worked!! you guys that replaced it does it still work for you???

[devilman13xx]

wiggle it a bit, i still have the factory one but sometime if it hit the hazards my blinkers will be screwy till i wiggle the switch

[SA-S10]

Quote: Originally Posted by Corey497

MINE DIDNT WORK!!!!
on the first attempt only the right side blinked
returned it for same PART different PART NUMBER
and...... neither worked!! you guys that replaced it does it still work for you???

Mine still works. Been going strong for a couple of months. Did you add the electrical greese? Sorry, don't know what else to add.

L8R

[rlith]

Did you slather it in electrical grease? Any other debri left in there?

[toybreaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by PHLATND96

Well When I Bought The Truck I Seen The Hazard Switch Musta Been Broke, Cuz He Has Electrical Tape Around The Column Holding The Hazard Switch In? ...but My Turn Signals Dont Work? So I Need To Check The Fuse Box To See If He Removed The Fuses...if Not Im Hoping By Replacing The Hazard Switch It Will Correct My Problem?

I must be the president of the HOOPTY Dime club. I bought mine with a wood screw put into the column to hold the Hazard switch in the off position. When i hit my brakes all my directionals light up, my turn signals no longer work and when i turn my ventilation switch to anything but off my dash goes crazy.

Going to go buy that part today(if i can find a parts department open that is)
and install it.

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by toybreaker

I must be the president of the HOOPTY Dime club. I bought mine with a wood screw put into the column to hold the Hazard switch in the off position. When i hit my brakes all my directionals light up, my turn signals no longer work and when i turn my ventilation switch to anything but off my dash goes crazy.

Going to go buy that part today(if i can find a parts department open that is)
and install it.

Let us know how it turns out!

[jason_r83]

well, I tried this several months ago and kinda forgot about it. I could'nt seem to get my old one out. On top of that, I "test" fitted the replacement one, and there is no way it would even fit in there. It was too big. Maybe the parts guy mixed it up? Maybe I'll try it again someday...

P.S. Right now I have a screwdriver wedged in between the switch. If it's not in the exact position, my horn will go off, my flashers would go on, and sometimes my turn signals would stay on only when I pressed on the brake, otherwise, they didnt work at all.

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by jason_r83

well, I tried this several months ago and kinda forgot about it. I could'nt seem to get my old one out. On top of that, I "test" fitted the replacement one, and there is no way it would even fit in there. It was too big. Maybe the parts guy mixed it up? Maybe I'll try it again someday...

P.S. Right now I have a screwdriver wedged in between the switch. If it's not in the exact position, my horn will go off, my flashers would go on, and sometimes my turn signals would stay on only when I pressed on the brake, otherwise, they didnt work at all.

If you look at the pic you have to pull the old swicth out. If you got the part number listed at the beggining of this thread it does fit.

[toybreaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by rlith

Let us know how it turns out!

Well the new switch is in. Slathered in that tan goop. My directionals don't light up when i hit the brakes unless the turn signal switch is in that position. I.E. right blinker right tail light when brakes are applied. So i am gonna trouble shoot the flasher now. If that doesn't fix the blinkers i am gonna call in a favor and have my ASE mechanic buddy trouble shoot it. I have replaced the A/C controls, and the hazard switch. Probly gonna replace the little round thing that makes the signals flash too. After that all i have left is the turn signal switch. Not looking forward to that. Hopefully it is just the Round thing.

[toybreaker]

Well it turns out my turn signal switch is bad after all. I replaced the flasher and everything worked good for 2 days then when i went to work on thursday it sounded like my turnsignals were on. The fronts weren't flashing but the rears were. Removed the hazard fuse. Still flashed. remove the turn fuse it stopped.

I hate electrical work. But i bought the truck for so cheap i can't really complain.
heh maybe when i replace the turnsignal switch the a/c will work again?

[pimptatious]

i replaced a broken hazard switch and now my turn signals dont work, i checked the fuses and they all seem to be working , the hazard lights will turn on but the turn signals thenselves wont. any sugesstions? thanks,
joe

[toybreaker]

is your flasher good? Mine wasn't. When i replaced it my turn signals and hazards worked like they were supposed to. However i have more electrical problems. Hopefully they won't be too difficult to fix.

Fixing the switch is a good option, but where is the fun in factory replacement. I broke mine and ended up shaving my upper and lower steering column covers and mixed factory interior paint to color match. It is those little inconviences that push people to get creative and customization begins

[SA-S10]

Quote: Originally Posted by fspin720

Fixing the switch is a good option, but where is the fun in factory replacement. I broke mine and ended up shaving my upper and lower steering column covers and mixed factory interior paint to color match. It is those little inconviences that push people to get creative and customization begins

Got Pics?

Sounds cool!

[da_s-10]

took me LESS then 3 minutes thanks SO much man i had a screwdriver for almost 6 months now man o man im I happy i dont have that no more ((NEsAuDiO))

[99Xtreme813]

I have a 1999 Xtreme... do you know if it's on the re-call??

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by 99Xtreme813

I have a 1999 Xtreme... do you know if it's on the re-call??

There is no recall, only a TSB.. You'll have to cough up the 15 bux..

[Chris's_96Blazer]

Thank you so much for this thread I finally went to Chevy and got a switch I came home disconnected the negitive battery lead and got my needle nose and started pulling it out,well I needed something smaller to grab so I got my fourCheppes (sp?) came right out and put the lube on and slide the new one right in,Woohoo i was finaished after hooking up the - Battery lead.Thanks alot.

$18.00 and 2 minutes of my day

[whoahstu]

Just wanted to say thanks for the how-to guide. I have been riding around for two years with my truck using various way to keep the turn signals working. I had the electrical tape first, that quit in the summer, then used a hunk of crumppled paper to hold it down to the right position, then my last was a plastic paperclip. I used to find the sweet spot on the switch where I had turn signals, then slide that paperclip in beside the switch let it load up and lock it in. Ghetto!

I went to a Chevy dealer and a guy in the parts department tried to sell me a $350 assembly with everything included, just like you guys said they would. I played stupid and acted like I didn't know the part number or how to fix it, just told him the switch was broken. So like I said he tried to sell me a $350 set. I asked several times "so there's no way to just get the switch?" I told him I needed to speak with the manager. The manager came over from the other counter and asked how he could help me. I told him the situation with the truck, and that I had a part number I needed him to look up. He typed it in and asked "which do you need the whole assembly or just the switch? "So they do sell just the switch?" as I look at the other guy. The manager looked at both of us and asked "what did he tell you before?" I explained what went on earlier, and he looked up the piece using the part number and then just by using the description of the part; found it both times. The manager was obviously pissed. I told him he's lucky I'm just some punk kid, instead of some GM Dealer secret shopper or some other investigative team. A $335 swing in the price of a broken little plastic switch seems like something is wrong.

Anyway thanks again for the tutorial. Sorry for the rant.

[stuntjester1]

yes, i just broke my shit like a week ago, after removing it over it for 6 years ive had the truck. Glad a saw this thought i have to roll with out it. plus i like black over the red anyways.

[Chris's_96Blazer]

Quote: Originally Posted by whoahstu

Just wanted to say thanks for the how-to guide. I have been riding around for two years with my truck using various way to keep the turn signals working. I had the electrical tape first, that quit in the summer, then used a hunk of crumppled paper to hold it down to the right position, then my last was a plastic paperclip. I used to find the sweet spot on the switch where I had turn signals, then slide that paperclip in beside the switch let it load up and lock it in. Ghetto!

I went to a Chevy dealer and a guy in the parts department tried to sell me a $350 assembly with everything included, just like you guys said they would. I played stupid and acted like I didn't know the part number or how to fix it, just told him the switch was broken. So like I said he tried to sell me a $350 set. I asked several times "so there's no way to just get the switch?" I told him I needed to speak with the manager. The manager came over from the other counter and asked how he could help me. I told him the situation with the truck, and that I had a part number I needed him to look up. He typed it in and asked "which do you need the whole assembly or just the switch? "So they do sell just the switch?" as I look at the other guy. The manager looked at both of us and asked "what did he tell you before?" I explained what went on earlier, and he looked up the piece using the part number and then just by using the description of the part; found it both times. The manager was obviously pissed. I told him he's lucky I'm just some punk kid, instead of some GM Dealer secret shopper or some other investigative team. A $335 swing in the price of a broken little plastic switch seems like something is wrong.

Anyway thanks again for the tutorial. Sorry for the rant.

WOW,I didnt have any problems I wanted to get just the swtich so I said I have a part # for you to look up and he said okey do you just need one,I said yea and he got it for me.

[rlith]

I live for stories like whoahstu's!!!

[pushnpop4]

I see there is a little round peice of metal on the top of the broke switch does that come out alo with it. Because my little metal cirle thing also broke

[Cameron]

OK, So I have done the swap I put the new switch in but no it just keeps making this clicking sound like the blinker is on when it is not. Any advice??

96 S-10 4 banger

[rlith]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cameron

OK, So I have done the swap I put the new switch in but no it just keeps making this clicking sound like the blinker is on when it is not. Any advice??

96 S-10 4 banger

This howto really doesn't address that, it's meant simply for a broken hazard switch, in your case you can try to replace the blinker relay, if that doesn't work you will have to replace the whole multifunction switch assembly.

[97sdime]

Yeah, so now its my story time... 2 YEARS AGO, myself and my dad were installing my first stereo system (father/son thing) and he got made because the dash didn't come all the way off, so he ripped the hazard switch off... So to this day I STILL have the broken switch in there electrical taped up. Tomorrow i'm going to my dealer and hopefully get the switch and done the repair! Thanks alot and i'll report back and see if it works!

[toybreaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by rlith

This howto really doesn't address that, it's meant simply for a broken hazard switch, in your case you can try to replace the blinker relay, if that doesn't work you will have to replace the whole multifunction switch assembly.

Heh My electrical woes went off the deep end. I still have intermittent blinking issues(pulled the directional fuse. Both flashers are new)
It seems i have a bad ground in either my dash harness or blinker switch wiring.
I have replaced the computers(the one under the dash and the one in the kick panel) since they are installed they are used and not returnable. Can anyone tell me where the grounds are for to the dash items?
I have removed cleaned and reattached the harness grounds under the hood.
I still have the a/c heater issue where when it runs all the dash goes dead except the tach when the hvac switch is anywhere but off.
And now it doesn't run at all. Turn the key on and get no fuel pump kick in or spark when cranking.

anyone?

[rlith]

Did you replace the multifunction switch?