89 Horn Blows While Turning Wheel

[JRA2000TL]

I bought a new replacement horn pad as mine had some crud on it that I could not remove. Easy, straight-forward install....2 screws behind the steering wheel; no airbag to contend with, etc.

After I installed it, my horn chirps when turning the wheel at certain points (sort of like vehicles where you hit the lock button twice on a remote). I moved the horn contacts around and re-installed; no change. Finally, I even removed the rubber pad itself off of the metal "frame" it's on, swapped it to my old "frame", installed the cruise buttons, etc. (I figured maybe it was the new assembly). It still does it every once in awhile.

Seems like some contacts are touching at a certain point in which the wheel is turned. Any ideas?

 

[hawkeye18]

Sure you didn't goober the clockspring somehow? I know, remote possibility, but if it's not the contacts on the horn itself that's just about the only other possibility.

 

[Vnuk1]

Agrees with Jason, clock spring.

 

[JRA2000TL]

Uh....the 89 doesn't have an airbag. I thought clock springs were only used on those and it doesn't show one for this particular car on RockAuto. Do non-airbag models use a clock spring also?

Cruise works BTW.

 

[firebat45]

If it's got cruise buttons I think it's got a clock spring, but if not, there will be rings of copper with sliding contacts, the wheel has spring loaded tips that ride on the copper and complete the circuit. It sounds like that's shorting in one or more locations. If you do have a clock spring then I'd go with that.

 

[rbruso]

'89 only has the three channels with connectors riding in constant contact, no clockspring. If one of the pins loses contact it should not make the horn honk, but I'd have to look at the wiring diagram to figure out what would, and it's at home.

Can you replicate the honking when you are sitting still, or do you need to be moving? Try pulling the pad and the top cover for the steering wheel off and tap the connectors with the handle of a screwdriver. Then try wiggling the connectors back and forth. It's possible you have a worn wire in the bundle in the column that only shorts when things are pulled just right, so just wiggle and move the things you can to see.

 

[JRA2000TL]

It does it stopped or moving; I've wiggled and moved the connectors. That's why I initially swapped covers and put my old metal cover on (but put the new rubber cover on it) since it didn't do this before I switched everything.

 

[-DVP-]

89 Horn Blows While Turning Wheel

I started laughing when i read this.

I have nothing useful to add to this thread

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

Cut, Print, CRANK CANCERZ,

/thread

 

[tommyturbo]

on a chrysler I have, I had an issue with the contact pad in the steering wheel center was bent, and making contact when it wasn't suppose to because it was bent. Maybe yours is too?

 

[TopGunnYFZ]

I started laughing when i read this.

I have nothing useful to add to this thread

Funny a day later I opened this thread to post this same comment.