Author |
Message |
djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 6:19 am Post subject: Repair horn button assembly? FIXED 5/6/13 |
|
|
I have a 1974 Super Beetle Convertible.
The Horn does not work and the PO simply added a button and new wires to it.
I'm fixing all of the MANY PO issues and have traced the wires coming to the diagnosis that all of the wires are fine, the Horn Button itself is faulty.
Now, M&T Manufacturing will gladly sell me a new Horn Button assembly for $77.00 (item #7) but I'd rather fix what I have......... It's just me...... Spend a day fixing something rather than replace it!
http://www.mtmfg.com/vw/944/Volkswagen-Beetle-Steering-Wheels-Parts
Here is a photo of the backside of the Horn button. The center White Dots are the connection to the Horn Contact Ground pin in the Turn Signal assembly. The horn wiring from the steering wheel to the horn works great! If I ground the horn contact wire to the Steering Wheel, the horn honks.
The center terminal connects via four wires to each of the four corner contacts next to the white spots. These four contact points make connection with the steering wheel wheel when the horn pad is pushed thus completing the ground and honking the horn.
None of these corner contacts have continuity to the center terminal and only two have continuity to each other.
The button is manufactured in two pieces and somehow fastened together.
IF I was able to separate them..... Repairs would be easy!
Has anyone traveled this path before me and repaired the bad connections in the horn pad?
If so, please share your method used.
Thanks!
Dave _________________ Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert
Last edited by djkeev on Mon May 06, 2013 10:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 10:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well, it seems as if I'm the first to encounter newer Beetle horn button repairs?
Here are a few photos of the 1974 horn button.......
I figured that the path of least damage is to remove the connector in the horn button assembly first and see what we are dealing with. It isn't at all imperative that the contact be fastened to the button so I took a 3/4" hole saw, removed the center pilot bit so that the drill bit itself fit nicely in the square recess the terminal is mounted in.
I carefully drilled through the plastic leaving behind a "plug" with the terminal moulded into it.......
The center terminal only had one wire connected to it...... Hmmmmm......
So, I got out my Dremel with a fiber cut off blade in it and cut out two access holes in the flat plastic on either side of center, this exposed all of the wires.
I cut off the center terminal and pulled the wire out one of the access holes I made. I stripped the insulation and clamped on one wire of my Ohm Meter and checked for continuity. It turns out that they are all good! The problem was the center terminal had a green corrosion which must have interfered with the connection..........
Here is how the unit is wired, I used a white string to illustrate the wire path.
Center terminal to Upper Left.
Upper Left to Upper Right.
Upper Right to Lower Right
Lower Right to Lower Left.
Lower Left to Upper Left............
I used a piece of scrap wire from my recent fuse panel repair project
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...;start=260
and butt connector end it to the center horn wire to increase my working length out the center of the Button........
I crimped on a fully insulated Spade Terminal to the Button and also onto the wire to the horn contact in the Steering Wheel...........
Total Out of pocket today cost? Zero!
But I did at one point purchase the three crimp on connectors so I'll give you maybe $1 total repair cost!
The result?
BEEP!
BEEP!
Dave _________________ Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos
Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473
Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537
Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ROCKOROD71 Samba Member
Joined: January 18, 2012 Posts: 2770 Location: Boston, MA
|
Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 10:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
excellent job Dave! Never seen one of those later horns disected...very interesting. _________________ 1971 STD BEETLE- DD-1st car, 1st love. keepin' it stock! 1600DP, Solex 34-3 Mexi Bosch SVDA Dist NOW w/POINTS
1977 WESTY "KrustyKamper" 2L FI
79SuperVert wrote: |
30 years from now, the next guy may not want your girlfriend, but he may want your classic car, depending on how nice you were to it. |
asiab3 wrote: |
Careful guys, a petulant child can grow up to be president these days. |
**winter drivers: no survivors!**rust warrior**#keepbodyshopsbusy** |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bikelash Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2013 Posts: 370 Location: Monument, Colorado
|
Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 11:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
Nice job, I had to do a similar job on mine. The main spade connector had pushed into the button and I had no way to get to it without drilling into the center. _________________ Ace
64 baja sold
72 sb wrecked
69 baja sold
69 std sold
72 sb sold
54 std sold
74 sb-ongoing
88 westy-ongoing |
|
Back to top |
|
|
djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
alexvw Samba Member
Joined: February 03, 2011 Posts: 1023 Location: Hales Corners, Wisconsin
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
cloudsurfer11-03 Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2020 Posts: 1 Location: Columbus MS
|
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 11:22 am Post subject: Re: Repair horn button assembly? FIXED 5/6/13 |
|
|
I'm only 13 years late to the conversation but I'm in the process of fixing up at '74 Standard Beetle that I recently purchased and am going to need to make a similar repair to my horn button/steering wheel pad.
I was wondering if someone can explain or has pictures of how the pad is attached/detached to the wheel and how to properly remove and install it. I've seen a few hardware kits for sale but can't find any pictures or assembly diagrams.
The PO attached the pad by wrapping everything in electrical tape and I don't want to cut it off until I have an idea of how to properly re-attach it.
They also had installed a secondary switch and wiring much like your PO. I've already removed/fixed all the wiring from the horn, the pad/switch is my last step.
Thanks in advance for the help. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
jetmech Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2019 Posts: 135 Location: Hamilton ON, Canada
|
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2020 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: Repair horn button assembly? FIXED 5/6/13 |
|
|
Great write up, I was actually looking at doing the same thing with my 74 Super I have a spare center button that i'm going disassemble, the PO cut the springs short for some reason so now it doesn't move off of the contact points on the wheel. and the wire connections in the center section don't make contact to the 4 corners.
Are the springs replaceable I have the smaller springs and they feel as if they are fused into the plastic. _________________ 74' Super Beetle |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Wild Iris Samba Member
Joined: January 15, 2020 Posts: 6 Location: AZ
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 11:59 am Post subject: Re: Repair horn button assembly? FIXED 5/6/13 |
|
|
Anybody know how to get that large plastic horn button off first??! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76902 Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: Repair horn button assembly? FIXED 5/6/13 |
|
|
Wild Iris wrote: |
Anybody know how to get that large plastic horn button off first??! |
Pull each of the 4 corners, they "pop" off and "snap" on. They turn the large plastic panel 90* and it comes off. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24733 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
|
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Repair horn button assembly? FIXED 5/6/13 |
|
|
Darn good write up. Those wiring connectors will let you down all too soon by allowing corrosion between the connector and the wire end. Factory crimped on connectors are gas tight as in oxygen that corrodes can not get in between the connector and wire end.
Here is a thread on the proper ratchet crimper and terminals:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=338938
If one is not going to invest less then $50 for the crimper tool and terminals, then solder and heat shrink instead for same gas tight connection. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|