2008 Volvo S40 with roughly 188,000 miles. Yesterday on 5/18/21 we started noticing an issue with our turn signals. The signals themselves work except when you try to go back to the neutral position, it either stays on what the current option was or goes to the opposite blinker direction. And then when you keep trying to go back to neutral, it continues to happen. You have to gently toy with the left side steering wheel lever over and over to get it to recognize to turn off like it's supposed to....sometimes this can take a little bit of time.

Some relevant pieces of information to note that might help:
- On 5/18/21, I had the emissions tested on the morning before this problem occurred but surely this wouldn't have to do with causing the issue?
- On 6/14/19, we had the ignition switch replaced
- On 3/10/21, we had the steering wheel module software upgraded
- On 3/23/21, we had the steering angle sensor replaced
- On 4/29/21, we had a full service oil change which included checking onboard computers, battery/charging system, safety/mechanical inspection, etc. and everything was good

Sidenote, is there a more popular Volvo forum to post future questions like these for a better chance at responses that you would recommend? I've noticed that this place seems kinda dead lately. Thanks!

5/20/21 UPDATE: My wife mentioned yesterday she was tapping the steering wheel gently with her thumb and it set the turn signal on in a direction by itself. And then this morning, she went over railroad tracks and this turned on the turn signal by itself too.

 

Sounds like the turn signal stalk / switch. The switching between those modes goes on in the switch itself, so I can't imagine it being anything else. Sounds like a good opportunity to try out an eBay part (or to spend a fortune at the dealer). ;-)

 

Ok thanks, roughly how much does something like that cost and is it an easy job? How urgent is this and could it worsen other parts, etc? You are pretty sure this doesn't have to do with the recent work done on our car as written above? Unfortunately I'm not a car guy so I can't just buy a part off Ebay and do it myself so I will have to have a shop do this.

Also, just an update...My wife mentioned yesterday she was tapping the steering wheel gently with her thumb and it set the turn signal on in a direction by itself. And then this morning, she went over railroad tracks and this turned on the turn signal by itself too. Does this extra information also point towards a turn signal switch like your suggestion or no? I'll update my original post with this.

 

It all points toward the turn signal switch / stalk. Sounds like the "detent" that keeps the stalk centered has given up the ghost.

I doubt it had anything to do with the work done previously, though it's always possible that they stressed something. But if it didn't start acting up immediately after getting it back, I doubt it.

No idea how big a job it is, but I'm betting it's really not a huge job at all. Probably just dropping off the plastic trim pieces, unbolting the old switch and bolting in the new one (with a disconnect / connect in there somewhere, too).

It appears there are two "flavors" of the switch / stalk, depending on if your car has the trip computer or not.

FYI - here's a quick link to the rockauto website showing the options: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/....4l+l5,1442445

Or, if you'd prefer to spend less, there are several on eBay that should work: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...ACAR_AND_TRUCK

 

Thanks for your help and reply habbyguy! So even with the additional information of the turn signals sometimes turning on simply by tapping the steering wheel and even going over slight bumps....this still lends itself to being probably just the turn signal switch and that's it? And how do I know whether my car has the trip computer or not? I'm not really sure...I know it calculates the miles driven since last reset but beyond that I'm not sure?

 

Yes, it still sounds like the turn signal switch assembly to me.

I don't have a Volvo any more, but if there are no controls that control the trip computer on the turn signal stalk, then order the switch without that option. If there are switches, start pushing them and see if they do anything to your dash display - you'll figure it out soon enough that way. ;-)

 

Thanks habbyguy! You hit the nail on the head and that's what it turned out to be. My local mechanic is replacing it for us next week.