[HOW TO] Change indicator stalk on Superb I (includes removing of steering wheel)

[Browser]

So referring to this thread ( http://www.briskoda....-noise-in-dash/ ) the main cause for clicking indicator relay is the indicator stalk itself. That's due the grease and dust buildup inside the stalk contacts and these give some electric contact to relay, causing it to click repeatedly.

One quick solution is to (if you have a air compressor) blast some air into the column and straight to stalk assembly. If that doesn't work, then welcome to read my HOW TO.

My stalk also had a problem, that the spring (that brings the stalk back to center) was busted and stalk didn't center itself anymore. So it was better to just buy the new stalk and replace it than figuring out what was wrong with the old one. Also the car is a daily car, so stopping it for day or 2 isn't a option.

So let's start.

1. Whatever you do with electric works in car (especially with AIRBAGS!!!), disconnect the battery. Also drain the excessive power from the system by pressing few times the brake pedal.

2. Turn the steering wheel 90 degrees to right and find the hole behind it. Stick a little flat screwdriver in it and pull it upwards. It should release the clip inside the airbag, that holds it to steering wheel. Repeat on the other side. Carefully remove the plug connected back to the airbag and put the airbag to safe distance.

3. Remove the yellow plug connected to clock spring.

4. Find yourself a sized 12 12-tamper socket that fits into the steering wheel bolt. With a help from a friend (that holds the steering wheel) loose the bolt. It is possible to remove it yourself, if you will turn the wheels all to left and then use the steering rack to loose the bolt.

5. Check your steering wheel, that does it have the alignment marks. If not, then get yourself some chisel and tap a alignment groove inside the metal.

6. Remove steering wheel.

7. Now you need a long and slim + socket screwdriver. You need to remove the plastic covers 4x screws.

8. Remove the bolt that is connecting the lower plastic cover to steering column. It needs a nr 4 hex key.

9. Remove the 2x bolts from the steering column lever cover with nr 25 torx key.

It's always good to put all screws and bolts to one place, instead leaving these laying on the ground somewhere...

10. Now lift the upper plastic cover up and away from the steering column.

11. Lower the lower plastic cover and then wiggle it out to right. It needs to clear the ignition ring. VERY IMPORTANT!!! Put some tape on the clock spring to prevent it turning around. It needs to be where it was, when you took away the steering wheel.

12. Remove the yellow airbag plug by unclipping the safety plug cover and then pulling the plug out.

13. Remove the black accessories plug.

14. Now we need to remove the clock spring. It is held with 4 clips that needs to be unclipped. On the picture 1 it is shown how the looks like and picture 2 shows the locations of 4 clips.

Clock spring removed.

15. Next look on top of the indicator stalk holder. There is a nr 4 hex key bolt, that needs to be loosened (not needed to remove the bolt).

16. Now comes a little hard part. You need to remove 4 plugs from the indicator stalk and wiper stalk.

Left ones - big purple one is just pull out type. Very good help would be from a little flat screwdriver, that could be used to wiggle the plug out. Other plug is a black plug and is inserted from up to down. So you need to pull the plug up (it has a clip that needs to be pressed, when pulling).

Right ones - big plug is just pull out type. Smaller one has to clips on sides that needs a little help from our friend mr. flathead screwdriver.

All the plugs. Indicator and wiper stalk assembly removed (just comes out by pulling it towards you.

17. Now separating the wiper stalk from indicator stalk. Wiper stalk has a little clip, that you can see from the inside of the ring (picture 1). That need to be pressed inside, when removing wiper stalk assembly from indicator stalk assembly. They are connected by 2 grooves.

So that's it. Putting all that together is just backwards of this how to. Clip in the new indicator stalk to wiper stalk. Put it place, connect the plugs. Secure it with black bolt, install clock spring and it's plugs. Remove tape, install covers, install steering wheel (watch out for the alignment marks) and bolt it in. Install plug to clock spring and then airbag plug. Put the airbag back to it's position.

[Cown]

AMAZING, thank you for this!

[rajsta]

excellent, will definitely be useful.

[Tdi1.9]

Thanks Browser, very well explained and nice photos.

I may be needing it in the future!

[Jonathan_1.8T]

thanks for this guide, helped me out as regards splitting the wiper stalk & indicator stalk on my Octavia '52 reg.

[dalius]

Can someone please confirm that it's actually an 12mm 12-point tamper-proof bit required? I'm having trouble finding one, all size 12s seem to be not tamper-proof.

[Trail71]

So this might be a stupid question, but how do you turn the steering wheel when the engine is off?

[dalius]

33 minutes ago, Trail71 said:

So this might be a stupid question, but how do you turn the steering wheel when the engine is off?

Put the key in ignition to prevent steering lock and use lots of force. Not that easy while standing still and without power steering assist.

[Trail71]

Thanks to this thread - I now have a new indicator stalk and fully working lights again

 

Love the net!! Thanks for the thread