Horn stuck on, some dash lights out too

jbooth35

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Horn won’t quit blowing. This is the opposite problem most encounter when dealing with horn issues. I have confirmed that the wire running up the column is indeed grounded to the column without engaging the horn switch but nothing obvious is pinching the wire running up the steering column. The horn wasn’t engaging in the past before I had lowered and ‘rested’ the column on the drivers seat while I worked on the steering box, but I was careful when handling it. I’m guessing that I still aggravated something effectively closing the horn circuit. Is my only option pulling the wheel and looking into where the horn wire is grounding to the column?

Hoping to button up the last few things so I can get the car inspected. I also noticed that the left turn signal light is not activated in the dash and I have no general dash illumination whatsoever. I did see a bulb hanging loose above the fuse box that may be the culprit but I didn’t see an obvious mounting point for that bulb. Hopefully the turn signal indicator is a replaceable bulb, although it looks like it may be a PIA to get to.

65 polara
 
Original steering wheel?
The horn button feels normal when pussing it in....?
 
Yes original wheel. I did disconnect the horn relay to stop the horn and I can confirm that the horn switch in the steering wheel works fine when tested independently. What I’m saying is the Black wire running from the relay, through the firewall and eventually up the steering wheel column is already grounded to the column somehow rendering the horn switch in the wheel useless or already activated.

image.jpg
 
Somethings not right there. That spade terminal shouldn't be bent over and touching the ring that circles the nut. That's gonna ground out and blow the horn constantly. Also there's quite a kink in the black wire, I'm sure it's fine but it shouldn't be like that.
 
Somethings not right there. That spade terminal shouldn't be bent over and touching the ring that circles the nut. That's gonna ground out and blow the horn constantly. Also there's quite a kink in the black wire, I'm sure it's fine but it shouldn't be like that.
The terminal is not actually touching and the kink is not as bad as it appears in that picture, but the wire is already making contact with the steering column. I just don't know what I did that caused that wire to 'short' inside the column somewhere. I may run a wire outside the column to that spade connector and verify everything works fine. I certain that would work though based on some basic continuity tests. Are there spots in the column where that wire is likely to get pinched?
 
The terminal is not actually touching and the kink is not as bad as it appears in that picture, but the wire is already making contact with the steering column. I just don't know what I did that caused that wire to 'short' inside the column somewhere. I may run a wire outside the column to that spade connector and verify everything works fine. I certain that would work though based on some basic continuity tests. Are there spots in the column where that wire is likely to get pinched?
Pull the wire out of the column and inspect.
It appears from the picture that the part highlighted below is not centered, but it may be due to the angle of the picture.
CE568AD1-1B68-45E3-818F-2A591EDD5356.jpeg
 
I can’t just remove the wire it seems without disassembly. The wire appears to terminate with a 90 degree connector about an inch down ..
B0218067-9E37-4914-9707-50D87EC85608.jpeg
 
did you have the steering wheel removed at some point prior to this problem? does the horn still blow when the black spring plate with the connector is removed?
 
I don't have a 2 spoke wheel off at the moment, but this is what a 3 spoker from a 65 Polara w/tilt looks like on the bottom. The black wire goes down and makes a quick right to the spring loaded contact going to the slip ring on the column.
upload_2020-8-6_20-20-28.png

upload_2020-8-6_20-20-58.png

upload_2020-8-6_20-22-37.png

That white plastic collar is way taller w/tilt wheel, but I recall the 2 spoke wheels are similar on the bottom.
Mike
 
did you have the steering wheel removed at some point prior to this problem? does the horn still blow when the black spring plate with the connector is removed?
Never had the wheel off. Only dropped the column to disconnect the coupler. Yes the horn still sounds even with the connector removed.
 
Never had the wheel off. Only dropped the column to disconnect the coupler. Yes the horn still sounds even with the connector removed.
Thanks for the pics. It looks like I’m going to have to pull the wheel off and see where this wire is contacting the column where it shouldn’t.
 
What seemed to cause the horn issue? What has been apart and then re-installed? Is there a "wave" washer/contact that might be upside down? Some insulators which are not there any more? At least it's not a RimBlow!

Just curious,
CBODY56
 
What seemed to cause the horn issue? What has been apart and then re-installed? Is there a "wave" washer/contact that might be upside down? Some insulators which are not there any more? At least it's not a RimBlow!

Just curious,
CBODY56
No idea of what caused the horn issue. It wasn't blowing before I pulled the battery over 3 years ago while I've been working on the car. Only thing I've touched near the horn would be the lowering of the steering column to disconnect the coupler to service the PS gear. For this I only slightly pulled the column towards the front seat and back again when re-connecting. Can't figure out why the wire is grounded to the column now, but it definitely is. Unfortunately my generic harmonic balancer and steering wheel puller doesn't quite fit this steering wheel so I'm off to the store tomorrow to grab another.
 
Never had the wheel off. Only dropped the column to disconnect the coupler. Yes the horn still sounds even with the connector removed.
i can't put my finger on it but something doesn't look right to me. there is nothing here:
ce568ad1-1b68-45e3-818f-2a591edd5356-jpeg.jpg

for this :
upload_2020-8-6_20-22-37-png.png

to make contact with. there should be a copper ring that the button rides on like this on the wheel side of that button so that it is only grounded when depressed:
s-l300.jpg

the black plate is a spring plate that allows the horn ring to spring back when released.
image-jpg.jpg

maybe the column is ok and you inadvertently re-grounded the column when working on it , triggering an old problem ?
 
This gasket must be shot. There is continuity here between plate and inner column. How do I remove the large “spring clip?”
BB5B6C2C-6B3A-4C00-A019-BBD9CF1D6B0D.jpeg
 
i can't put my finger on it but something doesn't look right to me. there is nothing here:
View attachment 393979
for this :
View attachment 393980
to make contact with. there should be a copper ring that the button rides on like this on the wheel side of that button so that it is only grounded when depressed:
View attachment 393981
the black plate is a spring plate that allows the horn ring to spring back when released.View attachment 393982
maybe the column is ok and you inadvertently re-grounded the column when working on it , triggering an old problem ?
Where can I find replacement parts like posted in the image?
 
That spring clip is fun, a couple screwdrivers and at least one other pair of eyes to find the clip's final resting place once you get it off..... As for the parts, i've never looked for those...
 
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