New indicator stalk not recognised

[BaronVonRichieIII]

Does a replacement indicator stalk require some sort of calibration before the car recognises it?
Main beam comes on and stays on when stalk is pulled to the 'flash' position and released, so I bought a second hand stalk. Nothing about the new one worked so the shop gave me another, same problem. Have tried changing the chipboard with the original. This solves the main beam issue but the function buttons don't work. Have tried this with both replacement stalks with exactly the same results.

[IainG]

Hi
What was the original problem?. Just wondering if the stalk/stalks are OK and the fault is somewhere else.

Iain

[BaronVonRichieIII]

To activate main beam, the norm would be to pull the stalk over the little stopper. Pulling the stalk only as far as the stopper just activates the main beam 'flash'. Let go and it returns to dip. But if I try to do the latter (e.g. flash someone out at a junction) the main beam stays on and blinds them!
Switching to DRLs is the only way to flash and not have the main beam stay on.
Does that make sense?

[gmonag]

Sounds like it is working perfectly. Read the manual.

With the rotary light switch at O, the lights are all off with the engine not running. When the engine is running the dipped headlights come on (DRL) and pulling the stalk flashes the main beam. With the rotary switch at the headlight position the stalk selects main beam and it latches on.

[BaronVonRichieIII]

I think you misunderstand. With the rotary switch in the on position, I can't 'flash'. That's not right.

[gmonag]

That is right - unless you half-pull the stalk.

[BaronVonRichieIII]

No. Even a half pull is activating the main beam. I let go, they stay on!

[Jim314]

Originally Posted by BaronVonRichieIII

Does a replacement indicator stalk require some sort of calibration before the car recognises it? . . .

AFIK no calibration is required.

I pulled both indicator stalks on my wife's XC90 (intermittent failures), cleaned the boards with an eraser, and reinserted. Both worked, but after some months the turn signal/light stalk began failing again. I replaced it with a new stalk. No initialization or calibration was necessary for the new turn signal/light stalk to work.

This is not a good part to fix with a used part. All the stalks eventually fail in normal use.

In our XC90 there is an intermediate stop which allows flashing of the lights in the on position. Pull to there and release the lights flash to bright; pull all the way through that stop to the end stop and they latch on bright.

[BaronVonRichieIII]

Ok, thanks for that. I, also, cleaned the boards but to no avail.

[Jim314]

Oh and I did not disconnect the battery to change the stalks. Just don't disconnect the immobilizer antenna with the battery connected, or you'll need a dealer reset. Not sure if the ignition switch can be disconnected, but to be on the safe side don't do it.