Thread: Horn Contact on GM colum

Tweet

Hi Guys, Im new here and have a question. Need help on horn not working. works up to the wire on the contact under the ring that locks the wheel. cant figure out how to get the ring off,( the one with all the notches for the pin to pop up thru to lock wheel.) I think I have a contact issue under there. Any advice? Thanks in advace. KC

Pictures would be helpful and the year and make of the vehicle.

It sounds like you may need to pull the steering wheel off, or have you already done that?

Yes the wheel is off. its a 90's GM tilt collum in a 36 Ford. There is this circular plate with notches cut out around the edge that the pin pops up into to lock the wheel when you turn off ignition. Under that is the horn contact ring. I think somewhere in there its not making a good contact. Horn works when I stick a probe under there and ground it. I just need to figure how to get that ring off the shaft. Ken

Originally Posted by KC33

Yes the wheel is off. its a 90's GM tilt collum in a 36 Ford. There is this circular plate with notches cut out around the edge that the pin pops up into to lock the wheel when you turn off ignition. Under that is the horn contact ring. I think somewhere in there its not making a good contact. Horn works when I stick a probe under there and ground it. I just need to figure how to get that ring off the shaft. Ken

That plate with the notches is spring loaded. If you push down on it, you will see a snap ring in a groove that keeps it there. The snap ring comes off and the plate slides off the splined shaft. To do it by hand is a real bear. There is a tool for the job, that makes it easy to take apart. I'll see if I can find mine and take a picture of it so you can see what I mean. Had one I made and used for years, bought one dirt cheap two or three years ago, and have used it once. Sniper

Ok found it, took a couple of pictures for you. Can't stress enough how you should use one of these. It will make life so much easier. This one has a removable threaded end, 9/16 by 18 thread per inch one end, and M14 by 1.5thread per mm on the other. Screw the adapter onto the shaft, tighten the wing nut, pushing the plate down exposing the snap ring. Get the snap ring up out of the groove, (I use an icepick and a small screwdriver.) back off the wingnut and "ta da" it's off. Make your repairs, and put it back together using a reverse proceedure. Sniper

Thanks Sniper. I kind of had a idea that the snap ring needed to come off to get the plate off. I think I can make a tool with some flat bar to push in the ring. Thanks for the info. Ken

Buy that tool real cheap at Harbor Freight. I have one and it works great.