Turn Signal Switch Cleaning

[shawkur16v]

Having issues with my turn signals so I took off the switch and its pretty grimy. Does anyone know how to take it apart and clean it?

[polov8]

Undo the center nut and remove the steering wheel.

Then remove the 2 screws holding the steering column cowling, and carefully unclip and remove that. If yours has all it's tabs and clips un broken, count yourself lucky!

Then there are 3 machine screws running parallel to the column that hold the turn signal and wiper stalks to the ign switch housing.

Once undone, you can pull away and remove the various plugs off the back and take off both stalks as one unit.

The 2 stalks are clipped together, but are easily separated, there's just 1 clip, easily identified.

[sciroccohal]

Clean the reed switches with fine emery cloth...do not use nasty solvents like carb or brake cleaner.
Blow out with air.

[shawkur16v]

Undo the center nut and remove the steering wheel.

Then remove the 2 screws holding the steering column cowling, and carefully unclip and remove that. If yours has all it's tabs and clips un broken, count yourself lucky!

Then there are 3 machine screws running parallel to the column that hold the turn signal and wiper stalks to the ign switch housing.

Once undone, you can pull away and remove the various plugs off the back and take off both stalks as one unit.

The 2 stalks are clipped together, but are easily separated, there's just 1 clip, easily identified.

I actually have it off already. I want to know if it can be disassembled further.

Clean the reed switches with fine emery cloth...
Blow out with air.

What are the reeds?

[sciroccohal]

They look like little leafs with anvils on them...just like points in a distributor.

simple observation would tell you what the switches look like.

[shawkur16v]

So I cleaned all the built up gunk off all of the contact points with rubbing alcohol and dried it with air. Then I cleaned all the plastic on the outside. Unfortunately I am still having the same problem so I will have to buy a new switch from GAP.

[cuppie]

Before you do that....
What, exactly, is the issue with the car?

Most turn signal problems in 'older' VWs are caused by something that's not the turn signal switch (those are quite robust.)
Hazard switches, for example, are a common failure point - and, will usually kill the turn signals when they crap out.

[first_rocc]

I can see that those stalk switches are pretty cheap (less than $10-$15) and available online for an '88. I would just get a new one. Check the connectors closely for bare wires when you disassemble it.