Getting high beams to work again

[hgeranium]

Years ago I had the Jeep at a shop where the mechanic replaced the turn signal switch. Afterwards I found, which I did not notice for months because I hadn't needed to use them in that time, that my brights no longer worked. Pulling the stalk towards me no longer clicks. It just moves back and forth loosely. Turn signals still work just fine. I know I need to take a good amount of the steering column apart to fix this but I wanted to know what to look for as far as the turn signal stalk and the switch for the high beams. I would guess there's a singular thing that got put out of place or neglected to be put into place so the stalk is not attached to whatever actuates the high beams.

[eaglescout526]

Check the rod on the left side of the column. There’s a rod that goes from the turn signal stalk down to the switch and that can come out of the switch when working on the console. 
 

I can’t believe I snapped this pic. But that rust colored rod is what pushes on your switch to engage the high beams

[hgeranium]

30 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said:

Check the rod on the left side of the column. There’s a rod that goes from the turn signal stalk down to the switch and that can come out of the switch when working on the console. 
 

I can’t believe I snapped this pic. But that rust colored rod is what pushes on your switch to engage the high beams

That's a great picture! I wonder how it'll work to get that rod back into place. Hopefully it's still in the column somewhere and the mechanic didn't throw it out. I would probably need to hit up a junkyard for a replacement if so.

 

Do you know how much I would need to disassemble in the column to get to this point?

[Pete M]

hopefully none.  it runs along the outside down by the switch it activates.   

[eaglescout526]

Just remove the lower dash to see everything is what I would to. The rod should be there. It’s held captive in the column by the lever attached to the stalk. So he couldn’t have thrown it out unless he tore the column apart that far to change the turn signal switch which he really shouldn’t have had to but it’s possible. Chances are it’s still there and just needs to be put back into the switch like in the pic. 
 

However you should be able to force the rod back a little to sneak it back into the switch. If you have to you can try pushing on the switch to help get the rod back into place. 

[A-man930]

Search "jazzman steering column" for the best how-to on these columns you could ask for.