Horn wiring

[Northern_Paul]

I can't get the horn to work - the horn and it's circuit are 'live' and by pushing the button the earth should be made and horn sounds.

With the button head off I can take the live feed and earth it and it works, if I short the live feed to the centre of the steering column shaft nothing happens.

Is this the way it should work and I'm missing an earth somewhere on the steering column??

Or am I missing an earth wire in the centre of the column??

[GreenV8S]

Northern_Paul said:

I can't get the horn to work - the horn and it's circuit are 'live' and by pushing the button the earth should be made and horn sounds. With the button head off I can take the live feed and earth it and it works, if I short the live feed to the centre of the steering column shaft nothing happens. Is this the way it should work and I'm missing an earth somewhere on the steering column?? Or am I missing an earth wire in the centre of the column??

On my V8S the horn is on the end of the indicator stalk, the pushbotton in the steering wheel is redundant. The steering column doesn't have any direct earth but is intermittantly earthed by accident via the steering column UJs to the rack. This is a shame because the immobiliser is earthed to the column . I've added a direct earth to the pedal box, which is earthed by the brake lines . You could probably do something similar on yours?

[homer]

Paul, Circuit for horn is via the piece of bent wire on the side of the horn button. This is supposed to make contact with the metal inside of the wheel, which in turn has a brass contact strip on the underside face which makes contact with the column.(so that the horn always works with the wheel turned)
If this contact is worn/dirty or if the wheel becomes loose (centre screw can work loose)then this contact is not made and horn doesn't work.
Try removing wheel, cleaning and refitting tightly.

[griffter]

Northern_Paul said:

I can't get the horn to work - the horn and it's circuit are 'live' and by pushing the button the earth should be made and horn sounds. With the button head off I can take the live feed and earth it and it works, if I short the live feed to the centre of the steering column shaft nothing happens. Is this the way it should work and I'm missing an earth somewhere on the steering column?? Or am I missing an earth wire in the centre of the column??

Sounds like your column isn't earthing. Mine's earthed via a ring terminal on one of the column bolts under the dash (to the battery/chassis I suppose).
But my horn doesn't work because the spring loaded 'contact' at the top of the column, behind the boss doesn't actually contact the brass ring on the boss. However if you can earth the wire behind the horn button and get a beep that ain't your problem.

[Northern_Paul]

This is getting beyond belief!

All that's missing is the earth to complete the circuit, everything else works. The centre shaft isn't earthing, although the outer casing must be as I have an earth cable under one of the steering column to under dash bolts.

So I can either try and hash-up and earth (can't see how at the moment, I've got the steering wheel boss/hub off) or look how to earth the steering column as it enters the steering rack area?

Any idea's???????

[Northern_Paul]

Cracked It........ took the earth that connects to the steering column mounts and touched it to one of the small bolts that connect the aluminium steering lock chassis to the steering column outer casing and that earths the centre of the column.

So I'll make up something permanant (steering column earth to aluminium chassis)and put it all back together

[griffter]

Well done. Don't forget to reconnect the battery. It could take us days to figure that one out...

[Northern_Paul]

griffter said:

Well done. Don't forget to reconnect the battery. It could take us days to figure that one out...

I know I'm getting more than my money's worth - but it's keeping you lot on your toes