Before Christmas I replaced my turn signal assembly and steering wheel. Upon reassembly, the horn is intermittently blowing (mainly on left turns but I can press on the wheel a bit and get the horn to blow) I disconnected the horn for temporary driving and went out today to try to actually fix it. I expected to see the horn wire piched or something... it looks fine. So now I'm wondering if I've misplaced a part or am assembling wrong. I don't have a drawing of how it's supposed to go together... and it's been a long time since I did the initial disassmebly (with broken wiper and headlamp switches in the interim getting my attention...) The horn ring I'm putting on with the brass ring/horn wire on the outside and capturing the spring loaded brass tab 9at 2 oclock) inside it. It does not appear to be contacting the steering shaft, though it is very close on the left side (because of being drawn toward the shaft by the captured brass tab on the right side). It appears there is nothing covering the brass ring... the steering wheel goes on next and it would seem to me it would be possible for the wheel to contact the brass ring and complete the circuit. Am I missing something/ assembling something incorrectly? I don't seem to have any parts left over. ;-) Thanks for any advice. Bill
Bill...when I reassembled mine, I had the same problem. I realized that that the top-side of the horn ring (plastic) has two nubs and those nubs fit into hole on the backside of the steering column collar. That may be a problem. Another horn problem I had was the single wire that is routed up through the collar had been worn away to the point where I was shorting the wire to the collar every time I turned the steering wheel. I have since added heavy duty shrink wrap the whole section of wire. I'd check these two things...
Thanks much! The wire is good (I was expecting to see fraying) and I had been carefully fitting the wheel on to capture those nubs so it was correctly aligned. I really thing I must be missing a piece... what is to stop the back of the steering wheel from contacting the exposed horn ring? Because since the wheel contacts the grounded shaft directly, if it also touched the brass ring it would close the circuit. That appears to be what is happening (though I'd think it would be doing it more consistenly than it is...)... I'd think there would be a little plastic shield in there... Thanks! Bill
Bill...not sure. Did you overtighten the ring nut? I wonder if you back-off the ring nut a half-turn would that help? Maybe you can post a pic of your horn ring, although they can be tricky to remove E.G. very fragile!...is there a piece of plastic that is chipped away?
Not overtighening; it makes contact just in test fitting with no nut on at all. First 2 pictures are the horn ring "installed", the second showing how it's slightly off center due to the captured tab up inside. Next is a picture of the shaft without the ring installed (showing the spring loaded tab I've been capturing inside the horn ring) Last shows a picture of the back of the steering wheel assembly. Just laying the horn ring on the steering wheel makes contact... which unless I'm misunderstanding how this works... would complete the horm circuit. Hence my assumption that _something_ must go in between, though I was very careful when disassembling not to lose anything... Thanks! Bill Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The top part of that horn ring should be plastic. Try getting some electrical tape and covering the top to see if that solves the problem. On mine, the only exposed copper is under the horn ring!
No, the top ring is correct as shown, there's nothing missing. There is later column switch varient where the brass is inside the plastic top, suspect that's what you're thinking of. However, the rivited crimp tab on the horn wire's end shouldn't be sticking out past the brass ring's edge, also it should be lying flat against the brass ring. I suspect it may be just out & up far enough to be contacting the hub. Try rotating it on the rivit till it's well over the ring & pressing it down against the ring. I expect that'll take care of the intermittent horn.
Thanks much Verell... I still don't see what keeps the wheel from making routine contact witht eh ring, but if it's a "close" gap, the tab could certianly explain it... will head out now and refit... Thanks again! Bill
I carefully tapped down the rivet connector as flat as I could get it... and that seems to have done the trick. I can't get the horn to blow in the garage, but it will take a Sunday morning drive to really test (salt allowing.. we'resupposed to get some nasty stuff tonight and it may be too salty to take out this weekend...) but I really appreciate the help!! Bill
Bill, That brass slider that contacts the horn ring should be lubricated. Use something like a Q-tip to put a film of dielectric grease on the slider & around the ring it moves against. That will both lubricate it & also help prevent tarnish building up.
