I'm making the jump to paddle shift, and desperately want to get rid of the sierra stalks...

What's the optimum thing to do with the indicators, I prefer to use them when possible - the dash is a fair reach away....

James

Can you wire some buttons on the steering wheel - some weels come with this facility built in.

Alternatively an ON-OFF-ON rocker switch mounted within easy reach - tunnel top (can't remember if you have a tunnel of any kind?) maybe.

Nick's idea of buttons on the wheel would certainly suit the look of your interior.

Could work, just needs some multi cored coil cable I suppose - I take it being able to press both buttons and therefore in "hazard" mode is insufficient for MOT?

James

I'd expect the hazards to be albe to be left on with you away from the vehicle and I'd expect the buttons for the indictors to be press to make type therefore removing the chance of leaving them on.

If though you're only removing the stalk and replacing with buttons then there should be a way to leave the oribianl hazrd switch on top of the column in place and working?

I've no idea how to go about wiring it as electrics are a mystery to me but there are planty of people on here who've helped me out in the past with diagrams you'll be able to explain it.

Except my apologies if wiring doesn't baffle you as it does me as reading the above does suggest it.

Westfield have this...

Link

Self cancelling indicator switch - don't see why you could not have it linked up to buttons on your steering wheel, then you would not have to hold it down

In reference to the hazards, just mount a button on your dash.

Or, why not just stick your arm out the side of the car, the old fashioned way

Had not seen this, interesting!

What triggers the cancel? a timer?

I believe it blinks the lights x amount of times, so it would stay on even if you have turned a corner, or turn itself off if you are waiting at lights etc....

But at least with wiring it up to steering wheel switches it would be easily accessible.

The only other thing i can think of is to have a really long indicator stalk, like the one off a mini mk1, but depends on how far your dash is away.

Why not just use your buttons on the steering wheel to change gear, so you can keep your stalks!!!

[Edited on 9/6/09 by m8kwr]

Yes.

Press for a 5 second timer and press for a second for a 10 second timer.

If you search ebay there are ones on there off certain bikes, but not sure how they work in comparison...

What you need is one of these
http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Signal_Dynamics_SelfCanceling_Turn_Signal_Module--62-SIGD-6.html

I've had a background project to do something similar with a microcontroller (it's easy enough) but it's a fair way down a long list.

Thanks guys, that's given me a good few idea's - I know it's easier to keep the stalks, but it's the first thing anyone comments on when they see the car! "are those from a sierra?"

Plus the quality of the sierra switchgear is frankly awful

Sorry to hijack your post - kind of - but what alternatives are there to using sierra stalks - if you want stalks!!!!

Using a different column etc?

When i had a westy, i used to hate trying to lean forward to turn the indicators on, especially when the harnesses keep you tight to your seat!

I am sure i saw ages ago an add-on to the sierra stalk, where you cut it off and replaced it with a chrome billet thing - i'm sure i suggested it to my mate for his cobra - as they don't look nice

I will ask him if he remembers and get back to you.

I have found these





And the plans to make them on a cobra forum

http://www.cobraclub.com/forum/cobra-wiki/30208-stainless-ford-sierra-indicator-stalks.html

just need to register.

And for sale on ebay...

LINK

There is a very locost solution. Glue a little magnet onto the steering column, have a normally closed reed relay suspended above the magnet at a "neutral" position.

Have buttons on the steering wheels closing a relay, the output from the relay....

actually I'll draw a picture, the only disadvantage is that if you pressed both buttons at the same time you'ld get both indicators. Not sure if that's a problem for MOT....

I'll get drawing...

Total parts=

1 electronic flasher relay
4 normal auto relays
2 buttons
some wire / crimp terminals

Self-cancelling flasher relays

Job's a good'un.

Problems would be if you had the steering direct ahead and you wanted to see the indicators going (the self-cancelling would kick in) and the fact that the self-cancelling isn't directional so if you had the wheel a little bit to the left and turned the wheel fully left the magnet might go past the sensor again and cancel the indicator. Clearly not a problem with a super fast rack. Anything < 2 turns would be fine....

It's a shame the original self cancel mech is mechanical - I have seen some of the chrome stalks on ebay for sierra stalks, perhaps that's a solution - but I doubt I have space...

James

I used an electric window switch on-off-on momentary (non-toggle) and a collection of relays from Maplins. There's two relays each side, one to switch the indicator current, the other as a latch. They are wired so that if you indicate, say, R then release the switch, then press the switch the other way (as to indicate L) the R indicators remain working and the L indicators do nothing....until you press a momentary break switch (actually a door courtesy light sw and fitted to the auto selector escutcheon) when everything lets go and the indicators stop. The only problem at the moment is that the warning light is quite dim and I can't hear the flasher relay - need a buzzer or more prominent W/L so as not to drive along with spurious lights flashing.
For side & head lights I used a rotary switch from a Cavalier; and I have no wipers.
John.
Here's a pic during the build:


...showing indicator rocker and rotary light switches.