73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Steering Columns => Topic started by: d_rhino_69 on November 07, 2013, 05:30:43 pm
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Hi Everyone
Ok So I have no horn operation. In the 6 months I've owned the truck I have never used the horn so I dont know if it ever worked.
The truck is an 87 GMC K10 305 but re-badged as a Chevy (tailgate, grill & horn button).
I changed the fuse (it was blown). Tested the horns.. They are both loud. When I bought the truck it had no keys. So I put an Ignition cylinder in it. I am wondering if I put something in backwards or am missing a piece. I have not checked the relay but through searching other posts I dont have the 3 leaf clover looking metal piece on top of the nut that holds the wheel on. Could that be my problem? I also searched the horn contact/turn signal cancelling piece (the plastic piece with the nipple looking piece on classic parts and I am wondering if it is in backwards/upside down.
Any ideas?
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Welcome to the site from California!
Assuming you have a factory steering wheel, do you have the spring loaded nail sticking up out of the hub next to the steering wheel retaining nut? Ground the 'nail' with a screwdriver and the horn should blow. The ~2.25" cloverleaf spring you're missing is necessary, because it's a contact.
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Hi
Yes it is the factory steering wheel.....Spring loaded nail? when I take off the horn pad all I see is the three bolts that cold the horn cup and round ring and the nut that hold the wheel on.
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The "nail" or more correctly the "lead" is a 1/8" diameter aluminum rod about 5/8" long that connects the horn contact ring below the steering wheel to the 'cloverleaf' shaped spring above the steering wheel.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of what you should have. Look at the 4th and 5th images down in How-To: Fixing a Sloppy GM Tilt Column. (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=12525.msg94796#msg94796) The 4th image shows the horn button cup with its three retaining bolts; the cloverleaf spring is attached under the cup and is sandwiched between the cup and the steering wheel. The 5th image shows the 'nail.' The nail pushes up against the bottom of the cloverleaf spring. When the driver pushes on the horn button, the cloverleaf spring distorts and completes the horn relay circuit to ground, sounding the horn. Look at the images to determine what maybe missing.
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Had the same problem. I would get a multimeter and start a little troubleshooting. So in saying that, how far did you go in taking the steering column apart... I agree with BD in checking to see if the pin fell out of the cancelling cam, it is basically a plastic slip ring that has a plastic pin housing that protrudes up between the lock plate and plastic cover plate once you pull the steering wheel off. The metal pin that BD was talking about is spring loaded. If the spring is missing then the metal pin would fall back down into the pin housing. If it's not touching the metal back side of the steering wheel then it will not complete the circuit.
If that is all good did you disconnect the Turn Signal Switch? It will be the slim harness with about 7 to 8 wires for the blinkers and Horn. Recheck to make sure its seated properly, then take your multimeter with extensions starting at the actual horn which is Dark Green. I like to use the audible on the multimeter when doing a continuity check. Hook one end to the dark green and trace it to the fuse box, if you get an audible that portion of the wire is good. Then leave the multimeter hooked up to the fuse box and take your other end into the cab and find the black wire on the turn signal switch, which is for the horn, if you get an audible then you know the deal that portion of the harness is good.
Now leave the end hooked to the black horn wire and depending on how your steering wheel hooks up to the horn pad it may have a green wire. Touch it with the other end of the multimeter and if you get an audible then the entire circuit is good. also if the horn pad has a metal tab protruding from it, it might need to be pulled out to make contact with the shaft when laying on the horn for them slow driver.
Hope this helps. I try to be detailed since this is a forum for helping out.