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Interesting problem with horn

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LastDeadLast

LastDeadLast

Jedi Knight
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Board,

I have a neat little problem with my horn... It works great, when ignition isn't on. For example; with the key off, I press the horn button, "BEEP". I insert the key, press the horn button, "BEEP". I turn the ignition key to any setting, press the horn button, "....", nothing. I turn the key back to off, press the horn button, "....", again nothing. I take the key out, press the horn button, "BEEP".

I've checked the horn relay, everything seems ok. I can jump it at any time and get it to work. Under the dash, I've grounded the wire after it comes out of the steering column and again I can make the horn go "BEEP". I've taken the steering wheel off and veryified that the switch works... funny thing is: it almost seems that the steering column "looses it's ground" when the key is turned if that makes sense.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
 
I think this is common. My horn only works when the lights are on, and I pull the lever toward me. (I am glad it works at all). When I was trying to start it with another DVT member, everytime I bumped the wheel the horn sounded. He said its something in the column that is easy to fix. The horn doesn't work when I press the button though.

Maybe the answer is in the TR6/250 electrical handbook.
 
Shannon,

I had a similar problem with my horn. Every time I turned left, it went off! Turns out the most common problem is the grounding strap on the steering shaft rubber coupling, just forward of the firewall. The strap loses its ground and all sorts of strange things happen with the horn circuit. I'd start by cleaning that up 1st. Good luck,

Mark
 
Mark,
Yep that was the problem, the check strap at the coupler was bolted to the wrong bolt, in effect grounding the lower steering column to itself. What made it hard to diagnose was when the steering column was locked, the locking bolt would ground the steering column, but when I turned the ignition key on, the bolt retracted hence removing the ground... gotta love it!

Has anyone ever unbolted that rubber coupler before??? What a pain to get back on! It took me about 2 hours from start to finish to jam the bolts back in. But it works now.

Thanks!

-Shannon
 
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