intermittent horn problem

ArtS
ArtS Expert Adviser
edited November -1 in HUDSON
During a typical 30-50 mile drive in the '53 Hornet, I sometimes lose horn function. Loss of horn seems to follow a series of multiple turns of the steering wheel as when rounding street corners in the neighborhood, going thru rotaries, etc. either left or right. Mysteriously, horn function returns later in the drive. Typically, I honk the horn by pressing on the ring at the 5 o'clock position. But when that fails to honk, I sometimes can get a response by pressing down or pulling up elsewhere on the ring. Strange happenings here.



Before I start taking things apart, I thought I ask for some guidance/suggestions on what to look for. The clear plastic insulator with the circular spring clip located under the horn center ornament is cracked in 2 places and seems to float around a little when the horn ring is depressed. Thanks for your time and best wishes.



ArtS

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    The horn wire and the contacts under the horn button / ring, would be my first suspicion. Is it easy for you to remove the horn button / ring? (Sorry, I'm a pre-war guy, and somewhat ignorant of post-war things. For us, it's only the matter of a quarter turn!).



    Before you start fiddling, however, disconnect the wires from each horn, that run to the horn relay. That way, as you close the circuit with the horn button, you'll only hear a little click from the relay, and not the horns themselves. It'll keep you and your neighbors from going crazy.
  • 37 CTS
    37 CTS Senior Contributor
    In additon to the above I have found that the cloth covered wiring had failed below where it comes out of the bottom of the steering colume

    and the horn wire needed to be replaced.

    Good tip about unhooking the horn wires. wish I thought of that.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    ArtS wrote:
    During a typical 30-50 mile drive in the '53 Hornet, I sometimes lose horn function. Loss of horn seems to follow a series of multiple turns of the steering wheel as when rounding street corners in the neighborhood, going thru rotaries, etc. either left or right. Mysteriously, horn function returns later in the drive. Typically, I honk the horn by pressing on the ring at the 5 o'clock position. But when that fails to honk, I sometimes can get a response by pressing down or pulling up elsewhere on the ring. Strange happenings here.



    Before I start taking things apart, I thought I ask for some guidance/suggestions on what to look for. The clear plastic insulator with the circular spring clip located under the horn center ornament is cracked in 2 places and seems to float around a little when the horn ring is depressed. Thanks for your time and best wishes.



    ArtS

    Art, The clear plastic ring should not 'float' if it is secured to the wheel and lower horn ring by 3 screws. If it does float we have problems right there. The plastic piece should hold the 'c' ring and on top of that you have the metal clip that holds the copper or steel contacter strip-all in place. The bottom of the steering wheel should have all three rubber horn ring isolators in place as well. The only other part you need to check is to see that the contact button and spring are where they should be-right beneath the contacter strip but not touching it unless the ring is depressed causing a completed circuit and thus the horn sound.
  • ArtS
    ArtS Expert Adviser
    Hudzilla wrote:
    Art, The clear plastic ring should not 'float' if it is secured to the wheel and lower horn ring by 3 screws. If it does float we have problems right there. The plastic piece should hold the 'c' ring and on top of that you have the metal clip that holds the copper or steel contacter strip-all in place. The bottom of the steering wheel should have all three rubber horn ring isolators in place as well. The only other part you need to check is to see that the contact button and spring are where they should be-right beneath the contacter strip but not touching it unless the ring is depressed causing a completed circuit and thus the horn sound.



    Thanks to all for the suggestions. The contact button and strip are potentially the problem as the cracked/floating plastic ring seems to have increased the distance between these components thus preventing a reliable and complete circuit. Flex in the plastic ring may variably increase distance betwen button and strip as I turn the steering wheel. Will have a look this weekend. ArtS
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