Pontiac Repair: High beam switch on turn signal lever not working, turn signal switch, pontiac bonneville

Question
QUESTION: Hello. The lever for my turn signals in my 1994 pontiac bonneville does not turn on the high beams when i pull the lever forward. There is a plastic piece seems slotted that came loose. The lever does not have the spring action and there is no clicking sound. Can this at all be fixed WITHOUT taking the steering column apart?
1994 Pontiac Bonneville, 3.8 liter engine, 6 cylinder.

ANSWER: Hi Bill:

That was a pretty common issue with that car. No the column has to be taken apart and the pieces put back together. usually the cap hehind the turn signal switch falls off and when you apply the hi beams that lever pops odd the rod. that cap stiffens the plastic where the linkage is and if that cap is missing or broke off that's exactly what happens. This is not a do it your self job. for 2 reasons. The air bag is in the horn pad and is dangerous and you also need a bunch of special tools to disassemble the top of the column. Sorry to be the one with the bad news. Good luck :}


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks  I have the plastic gaurds around the lever off and can see the bottom of the lever,I see an metal hook that goes in out by moving it by hand. My question is do i have to remove the steering column EVEN if i can access the lever area right at the sterring column inside? Also it would be easier if i could take the handle end off the the tilt lever due to a plastic piece that has the cruise control connector on it ,the head of the the tilt lever is too big to slide the gaurd over,,,ANY ideas??

Answer
Yes the column has to be disassembled at leats the top half does. that little plate is held in place by the big bowl where the lock cylinder does in and the turn signal switch is attached to under the steering wheel. that plate is held in place and then the bowl is lowered down onto it. then that plastic cup is clipped into the plate and stops it from flexing when you switch it from hi to lo beams. ther is no easy way around fixing it.