Horns...

[Robert Smith]

I pulled out the wire going down the column and saw there were a few little cracks; I wrapped them in electrical tape... I put it all together and I turn the key... HOOOONK! Well, I open up the horn button and take off the ring again. I loosen the "T" bar that holds the spring down a little, put it all back and do not tighten the screws that hold the horn button cover on all the way, I turn the key and no sound... I then honk the horn, I GOT HORNS! Now, why in the world will it not work proper when everything is screwed tightly? And only seems to work when things are a little loose?

Any ideas guys?

R=

[Young Ed]

Not sure but I've heard of others having this issue too. Mine works properly fully tightened though.

[Frank Elder]

If leaving it "loose" allows the horns to work, maybe installing shims would make a good temporary fix.

Until you can properly troubleshoot it.

[Robert Smith]

Mmmm, interesting... I'm not sure what's goin' on with this thing. When I first bought the car the horn worked just right, with screws tight. And, then I bought a new horn ring off of ebay and that worked correctly.

It all started a few months ago... and so I pulled out the wire and saw some breaks in the rubber coating... so, I fixed that with some electrical tape. Not sure what's grounding out when the screws are tightened but, something is.

=R

[BobT-47P15]

I presume you have all the components inside the steering wheel hub

in the correct order. I know I had to mess with my horn at one time

when installing a new wire down the steering column. Finally got it

right, but it's been so long ago I can't recall the details.

The horn ring has to be able to "float" in order for you to push on it

and honk the horns. The rest should be tight.

The round metal disc (cup) rests on the wheel....That's

followed by the nut. Then the spring is sandwiched between the cup

and the T piece with the 3 screws in it. There is a "contact" piece

on the end of the wire that sticks out above the T. Not out much,

however. Then the horn ring is secured by the center cap.

Those screws might need to be just a little loose. Have to experiment

with how much play the ring has when completely tight, or a bit loose.

You may have done all this already, -- just using my best recollection

of the thing for what it might be worth.

[Norm's Coupe]

Did you put the spring back in that goes under the "T" when you reinstalled the wire? You don't want to tighten it down so much that the spring doesn't do anything. You just want to snug it down with the "T" on top of it.

[greg g]

The wire to the button completes the ground portion of the circuit. Over tightening may cause the ground to be completed regardless of the butto position. So leave it loose and enjoy your horn when you want it not of the cars choosing.