Horn mystery

[vaquaro]

Background : replaced signal & wiper switches a while back . In the process of re-assembly I bent the lock-ring plate (had wrong side up & compressed too much with lock ring tool ) :dunce: 1/2 @$$ straightened it out . The horn ceased functioning at that point. I recently bought a new lock-ring plate , signal canceling cam (part of horn circuit), horn contact spring and new C-clips . ........ :typing: Yesterday, carefully dis-assembled wheel & removed the inards , inspecting for damage , contacts ,as I proceeded . Re-assembled . Tried the horn....nothing :( ,tried turning the wheel lock to lock while tapping on the horn button . Now here's the Mystery...The horn works only near full lock left or right :huh???: Any ideas where I screwed up this time ? :dunno:

[Pete M]

wow. that's one dilly of a pickle. sure nothing got messed up in the steering column harness while installing the switches?

[vaquaro]

Ya it's a sour dill at that :( Seems I'll be tearing into it one more time (too many ) I'm wondering if I forgot the thrust washer or who knows what ? I'll definitely be checking out the wire harness for pinches this time as you suggested. The wierd part is why the horn works at near full lock , but now where else in the wheel rotation :wall: If all else fails I could direct wire a secondary horn button but I really hate bandaid fixes :ack:

[AmJay]

I'm guessing you may have put the horn spring plate in upside down. It may have gotten flattened out when you put the lock plate in upside down. I stole this picture from someone. It's from a Chevy Nova but it's the metal spring in the center. If it got flattened out it could cause your problem. They sell the spring plate at NAPA. When you push your horn button the spring compresses and touches the steering column and supplies the ground for the horn. You can test it by touching a screw driver to it and the steering column. If the horn works it's probably a bad spring.

 

 

 

You didn't say what steering wheel you have. This is for a Sport wheel.

[vaquaro]

Thanks , I'll check that out . I have the base 2 spoke wheel .

[JeepcoMJ]

does the relay click when you push it?

[airspeed]

Are you sure your horn worked before this rework. I had a similar problem with my horn and found that I had no ground continuity up the rotating column. The entire rotating part of the steering column was isolated, no ground. I used small ground jumper wires over the column U-Joints and now my horn works! I think I found this fix on the forum somewhere. I have a picture of my rework I can post later tonight.

[watchamakalit]

Easy fix.

 

Just swerve before you honk and wave. :clapping: :D

[vaquaro]

Easy fix.

 

Just swerve before you honk and wave. :clapping: :D

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: Here in B.C. I could just display a " L " plate (new driver) and most people usually get the heck out of the way . :thumbsup:

[vaquaro]

does the relay click when you push it?

not until its at full lock .

[vaquaro]

Are you sure your horn worked before this rework. I had a similar problem with my horn and found that I had no ground continuity up the rotating column. The entire rotating part of the steering column was isolated, no ground. I used small ground jumper wires over the column U-Joints and now my horn works! I think I found this fix on the forum somewhere. I have a picture of my rework I can post later tonight.

Yes the horn did work before , I think /thought the circuit closed the ground wire to the relay to actuate the horn . I'll search out the column ground you referred to ( chime in anybody who knows of it )... :shake:

[Geonovast]

Get a different column, disassemble them together, and see what's different. Then, when you see nothing wrong, toss old column, and install new one!

[airspeed]

Here is the schematic of the horm circuit. The horn switch grounds to the rotating portion of the steering column.

[vaquaro]

diagram shows "horn brush ring" which jeep calls a signal cancelling cam ( I re-placed that along with the new lock plate ) also the horn switch in the steering wheel is not bent and circuit test confirms its working . Full tear-down seem be my future :wall:

[El Comanche]

You could always install a big truckers air horn. My friend has a small air horn on his bike (not a motorbike} that has a 2 litre pop bottle to hold compressed air. It is loud! :cheers:

[carnuck]

could also be the ground strap at the rag joint on the steering column snapped. No ground up the center = no horn

[vaquaro]

You could always install a big truckers air horn. My friend has a small air horn on his bike (not a motorbike} that has a 2 litre pop bottle to hold compressed air. It is loud! :cheers:

I got one of those aerosol game horns laying on the seat (w/ear plugs ) as a back-up :banana:

[vaquaro]

could also be the ground strap at the rag joint on the steering column snapped. No ground up the center = no horn

Whats a rag joint :dunno: and where would I look for it ? :cheers:

[El Comanche]

A rag joint is a flexible type of universal joint made with heavy canvas or recycled tires found on the steering shaft in the engine compartment.

[airspeed]

Here is what I had to do to make my horn work. This is only the lower ground jumper, there is another one up higher on the column, I couldn't get a good photo of it.

[vaquaro]

Thats a great photo , I'll give you suggestion a try ....Thx , Gord :cheers: