Horn repair

[keith]

This is how to repair the horn ring when it wears down.

Remove the cover over the horn
Remove the horn contacts
Remove the steering wheel and turn it over.
On the steering column, you can see the brush that carries the current from the steering wheel down to the wiring harness and to the horn.



On the bottom of the steering wheel is the brass ring that contacts the brush. By now the brush has worn down so that it doesn't make contact with this ring any more. Remove this ring.



Cut a piece of adhesive backed gasket material to fit under this ring, between the steering wheel and the ring and reinstall.



You test this first before starting by unlocking the tilt wheel and move the wheel to its upmost position, the horn will work, but not in the down most position, or visa versa. Its been awhile.

[ARCHINSTL]

Bravo - Sticky City, it is bound!
Tom M.

[ALiveSR5]

When I had to fix my Tercel's horn, I first raised the brass ring, much like you describe. However, I was concerned that the spring-loaded brush might catch on the raised ring, either causing the steering wheel to lock or bending/breaking off the brush stem.

So, I reseated the ring in its normal place then put a solder bead on the end of the worn down brush end.

[Briguy91]

This is how to repair the horn ring when it wears down.

Remove the cover over the horn
Remove the horn contacts
Remove the steering wheel and turn it over.
On the steering column, you can see the brush that carries the current from the steering wheel down to the wiring harness and to the horn.



On the bottom of the steering wheel is the brass ring that contacts the brush. By now the brush has worn down so that it doesn't make contact with this ring any more. Remove this ring.



Cut a piece of adhesive backed gasket material to fit under this ring, between the steering wheel and the ring and reinstall.



You test this first before starting by unlocking the tilt wheel and move the wheel to its upmost position, the horn will work, but not in the down most position, or visa versa. Its been awhile.

I have a question I recently changed my indicator wiper blade stick would that mess up the function of my horn??

[Petros]

I have a question I recently changed my indicator wiper blade stick would that mess up the function of my horn??

I do not think so, the indicator stalk is unrelated, it has a lever that strikes a post as you turn the steering wheel to disengage the indicator when going around a corner. none of that affects the horn ring.

That is assuming you got it all back together properly. It is possible you may have disturbed a contact, the alignment, or connector on the horn assembly when you had it apart. But I have found it is rare that the horn works anymore on a 35 year old car, corrosion and wear typically makes it not work without a good overhaul like shown on this thread.

[Briguy91]

What did you use to between the steering wheel and ring to extend it where can I find something like that

[xirdneh]

I made a brass part to slip over the brush to make it longer. Then lube with dielectric grease

[MrWrench]

I made a brass part to slip over the brush to make it longer. Then lube with dielectric grease

Is this something you would sell?I would gladly purchase a few.

[Phatcat]

On the older Toyota pickups and 4Runners we use a .22 LR casing slipped over the plunger contact and it works absolutely perfectly for those vehicles. I’ve used it on trucks from 1979-1995. Obviously, the bullet has been discharged/fired and we’re talking about the shell specifically, but it fits perfectly and majority are brass. The casing will ride on the horn plunger and wheel ring, and the butt end of the bullet is just thick enough to fill the few millimeters of wear. Just information.

My horn on my 84 T4WD works 95% of the time, but I suspect I’ll be installing a .22 LR casing at some point.

[NWMO]

Phatcat,

Fantastic! Tips like this (with our groups good nature and civility) make this site special! Thank you.

Chris