[Fried_Guy]

I have a 68 Malibu with a wood steering wheel. I installed the wheel myself about a year ago and connected the horn etc. Everything worked fine up until about a week ago.

I noticed my right blinker not working at all. So I took apart the column (up to the turn signal cam), and cleaned all the contacts. The blinkers work fine now.

Only problem is that I can't get my horn to function properly.

After I got the wiring through, (inserted the spring and plunget, etc.) and before I get it connected to the cardboard piece (the piece that contacts the steering column when the button is pressed to complete the circuit), the horn sounds and won't stop.

Nothing is connected (that I can see) to complete the circuit. It's not grounded anywhere that I can tell.

Right now I'm driving with no horn, and I don't like that.

Someone please help.

 

[cjlandry]

The only thing you can do is to use an ohmmeter to find where it's grounded. The horn won't sound if the circuit isn't completed to ground somewhere. It might be inside the column.

Put alligator clips on your ohmmeter and connect one end to the horn circuit and the other to ground. If it reads near zero, you're grounded. Start removing things until the ground goes away. You will have found your problem.

It's nearly impossible to troubleshoot electrical problems without a multimeter. If you don't already have one, you can get a cheapo at WalMart, Radio Shack, a parts store, or whatever for between $5 and $10.

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Chad Landry
TC Member #643
ACES Member #04556
'68 El Camino

 

[John_Muha]

Follow Chad's advice.
A slight modification, if I may, would be to disconnection the black wire off the horn relay before you start. Put your meter between this point and a good ground. This way, there is nothing else connected on the black wire. If I have to guess everything was ok before the turn signal switch was cleaned. Suspecting that somehow the black wire is pinched. Maybe leave your meter attached to the black and ground, and watch it has you take apart the upper column.

 

[Fried_Guy]

I'll try that...

But it doesn't start sounding until the wire is slightly jiggled.

Ok, I have to feed it through a big metal biece that slides over the gears of the steering wheel column. That's what the steering wheel screws into.

Could it be contacting in there somewhere?

Because it doesn't sound untill it's fed through there.

What's the best way to wire up a horn anyway?

It's a PITA to put that spring in and all.

[This message has been edited by Fried_Guy (edited 11-09-2001).]

 

[cjlandry]

I use a piece of paper with scotch tape on the outside to hold the spring in place while I get the other parts on. When you get the other parts over the spring and contactor, just pull the paper out. It's easier than trying to hold everything in place with one hand and assemble with the other.

It's hard to explain with words. I hope it's clear enough.

------------------
My Web Page (updated 10-27-01)

"America will endure!"

Chad Landry
TC Member #643
ACES Member #04556
'68 El Camino

 

[Fried_Guy]

Makes perfect sense, thanks.