Ground to Steering Wheel Horn Pad? Fixed

[LemonCove]

I'm missing the wire that connect the steering column to the horn pad, like shown in berge13's photo:

The pad has 2 clearly marked connections, "+" and "-". I just need a way to connect the "-"

I can trace 12V from the fuse, through the horn contact ring. If I ground that wire, the horn sounds. So now all I need is the second wire that connects the "-" connection of the horn pad to the wheel/column.

Anyone know where to source this? I don't even know the name of the stock part. Seems like a simple washer (under the S/W nut) with a male spade and a short jumper would work.

Thanks-

Jed
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'88 Bostig Westy

[0to60in6min]

this one?

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_439_1455/horn-contact-ring-p439.html

[LemonCove]

Thanks 0 to 60, did that a while back (it was needed . . . . old one was broken where it is supposed to make contact).

The saga:

There horn was missing when I bought it.

First a new horn. Nope
Then a new horn contact ring (like 0 to 60 suggested above). Nope
Traced the current. Nope
Then replaced the blown fuse (should have checked before contact ring) and
traced the current in the line - GOOD to steering wheel horn pad. Nope, no horn.
Checked Bentley. OOPS . . . . missing a ground to connection to pad.
Checked samba, saw berge13's photo.
Posted my question . . . .

No one had any suggestions, so I made up my own fix, knowing the ground was transmitted through the column to the Steering Wheel hub:

Drilled, tapped, added a wire between wheel and "-" connector on the back of the horn pad.

If for some reason you have this proble and use this fix, leave a bit more clearance for your 24mm socket . . . . but still fits as shown.

Horn Works!
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'88 Bostig Westy

[slowcoach]

superb fix, love it! ive just copied this and i think its solved my 'unreliable earths' from the horn earth line.

Sincere thanks LemonCove
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EJ20 Subaru Trakka 1984

[CelestysWesty]

[jon_in_alberta]

Hello there,

I have a question that I think has a quick answer: (this is the the most recently active thread so I thought I would post here instead of starting a new one)

In the pic below you can see that my horn ring is toast (sheared off from the top part) - I thought that was the problem to be fixed - not so.

I am trying to test the horn by connecting the copper tab (red arrow) to the steering column (yellow arrow) - that should make the horn sound, right?

[and while I have you]
When I do connect it, all I get is a click - but I think the click is coming from the horn area - not the relay.

I tested the horn by connecting it directly to the battery - it works.

Got the voltmeter out and the wires at the horn go to 12.5 volts when I press the horn.

When I connect the red and yellow arrows in the photo I get spark and the connecting wire gets real hot real quick.

If this all makes sense to people, please let me know what is happening. The research I have been doing today suggests it is a faulty ground probably lower on the steering column - I will try that and get back to everyone here.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jon

sorry how dirty everything is - i took the pic before I cleaned it.

[?Waldo?]

[jon_in_alberta]

OK little update.

Did some more tests and took some pics.

The voltmeter reads 12.5 when connecting the copper tab in my first image (red) to the steering column (yellow). if i rub the contacts over the threads of the column I can even get a little honk from the horn with a lot of clicking sounds. (remember the horn works fine if connected directly to a battery )

I think there has been some electrical less-than-ideal work on this doka. (did I mention I just bought this truck 2 weeks ago and am trying to fix all the stuff - it still is not even licensed to drive ... PLEASE HELP!! I have an inspection to pass)

I am including the pics below to show that from as far as I can see the ground on the steering column looks good. uuuugh - second pic - brown wire at the bottom

The new info is the stereo tie in. an obvious new job, looks like they tied into power where I have included the orange arrow in the pic. Maybe this is the cause of all my issues?

To add insult to injury: when i took off the the steering column plastic covers the headlights came on ... without the key in. so yeah. uuugh. they turned off again when I wiggled the plastic cover I was taking off (top one) but again whaaaaaat? any help would be amazing.

I think I should just cut the wire to the shoddy-install stereo, yank the whole thing out and then see if the electrical problems are solved.

Cheers,

Jon

ps - thanks for the input waldo - you are right - it seems there is no relay for the horn. I have seen others install one in other posts. also yes to the electrical path (as far as I understand).

[dhaavers]

New van, clean all the grounds. Weird stuff happens with bad grounds.

Find the ground stars up to the left of the fuse box on the A pillar…there’s your homework for tomorrow.

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[MsTaboo]

You need a new one of these for your steering wheel:
https://www.buslab.com/product-p/321419661aam.htm
or
https://gowesty.com/products/horn-contact-ring-replacement?variant=41426741297317

And read up here:
https://gowesty.com/blogs/article-library/steering-wheel-grinding-noise-vanagon
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Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
All that's needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.
Resist Kleptocratic Oligarchy (and Idiocracy)!

[dobryan]

And for now I'd disconnect the stereo wiring but leave it in place in case you change your mind later.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[jon_in_alberta]

[harvgwen]

Good news. Thanks for posting.
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1986 Westfalia Vanagon, 2.2 Subaru
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

[pointillist]

Adding in a success story where drilling and tapping for a ground in the steering wheel itself solved all of my intermittent horn issues. Highly recommend.

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89 VW Cabriolet
91 VW Doka
Doka Build Notes
Social Links

[dhaavers]

[?Waldo?]

The stock horn ground doesn't go to the ground trees. You can see it in this pic at the base of the steering column:

I suspect that jon_in_alberta actually does have a horn relay added by a PO.

[dhaavers]

To do the most good, any relay should be on the plus side though, yes? (between fuse box & horn) I installed a kit a while ago, outside, down near the horn but I s’pose it could be anywhere from there back to the fuse box. Maybe OP jiggled THE relay or a connection while messing with grounds down under the dash.

The mystery continues…

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>