myk

iTrader: (4)

Fellow bird people,

I tried to pull on my turn signal stalk to turn on the hi beams only to get a flopping sensation from the lever. When I had the chance to look at the turn signal lever I saw that there is a J shaped rod that obviously pulls the hi beams on and off. Only thing I can't figure out is how the turn signal lever is supposed to interact with that J shaped rod since it's too far away . Am I missing a part? Here's a picture of what I saw:



Any input is appreciated, thanks in advance...

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

You took off the part that interacts with that actuating rod. It's the High Beam Follower. Check out Page 25 of this document and read on: http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w...ld.pdf#page=25

The follower rides on part of the ignition mechanism and there is a "finger" on the backside of the wiper/multifunction switch, which contacts and actuates that.

myk

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the response. That part that you are talking about, which looked like a cover for that area, was already on when I had the problem. I assumed there was some other piece that must have broken off. So replace that cover piece and go from there?

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Ah - yes. It's called a "High Beam Follower" and it is held captive and does slide inside that cover. So, you'll want to make sure the follower is intact, the cover is intact, and that the two are lubed with white lithium grease. One of our other members has a thread here where one of those pieces broke and made things floppy. So, you may need to replace that follower or the cover.

I'd do the following things first:
- Make sure the metal rod works properly by itself before you put the column back together
- Make sure the hook/finger on the back of the multi-function wiper switch is intact.

Instead of that .pdf, check out this thread and search for "follower". There are extremely detailed instructions on the part and how to put it all back together. http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/088020-3.html

myk

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the response. I checked the metal rod and it works fine, properly activating the high beams. I'm pretty sure the high beam follower is missing though. How that part disappeared is a mystery to me; I've had the car for 12 years and it worked fine until recently. I'll have to buy that follower but I don't see it on eBay or anything. Suggestions? Thanks again...

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

I think you'd have to find a specialty retailer to get the follower. (I recall that we had another member here who had problems finding them.)

There are tons of used ones on eBay for sale under Highbeam Follower or Highbeam Contactor. Just about anyone from any older GM column should fit.

myk

iTrader: (4)

yes, once I used the word high beam follower I found the part easily enough.

well, I got the follower installed but I have no idea how I did it. It's not as if you can see what you're doing so I just kept pushing the follower around inside of the column until it settled and actuated the high beam rod. What a pain in the a@@, but at least I have high beams again. Thanks to all...