Have you ever wondered how the doggone thing works?
When you push the lever to the right or to the left, a Nylon roller moves over plastic pieces and falls into detents. The lever also compresses a spring which wants to return the lever to the center position. When pushed to the right or left, a magnetic coil is also energized. Between the Nylon roller in its detent and the force from the coil, the lever is able to over-ride the return spring. When the coil is turned off, normally from the steering wheel being turned enough to activate the column switch, the return spring moves the lever to center.

• Nylon roller must be free. Oil it. Also oil and clean the rusty armature over the coil.
  

  
  

  The switch works by putting + 12V onto the hold coil + via orange or purple wires; left and right through the steering column (release) switch. The ground end of the hold coil returns to (-) via the switch frame, but passes through the actuating switch such that it is only grounded if not parked on center. That is why it holds as you select R or L. 12V is always on the purple and orange wires via the column release switch. Typical failure of that column switch is it won't hold the lever on R or L because switch contacts deform inside or break off, means no 12V. When correct, turning the wheel opens that switch momentarily, releases lever which snaps to center because there is no ground of coil to hold it until you move it R or L.
  
  

  When 12V is interrupted even 1 second, the switch lever snaps back to the middle which also shuts off the 12V to the coil.
  
  

  The right and left 12V signal to release the switch lever is supplied by the purple and orange wires which are powered at the steering column.

  
  To Test: