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Author Topic: Steering wheel swap and horn problems  (Read 14250 times)

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Offline El Matador

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Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« on: August 19, 2008, 01:27:55 AM »
My '84 has a maroon interior, but came to me with a brown corporate style steering wheel in it.  Also, the horn wasn't working.  So, I swapped in a maroon sport wheel and accordingly changed out the horn contact in the column.  The one with the wire and clip is gone, replaced by the spring loaded plunger style.

Problem is, the horn is now ALWAYS ON unless I unplug the relay or disconnect the battery.  >:(

So, is there something else besides the contact that I'm supposed to swap, when installing a sport steering wheel?  I've attempted this with two of my AMCs now, both times without success in making the horn work properly.
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Offline IowaEagle

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2008, 06:40:17 AM »
Yes, the horn set up is different.  But, at the moment, I don't remember how.  That will take some study.
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Offline Pack Rat

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2008, 09:33:09 AM »
I just happen to also have a column out in the shop that has the sport wheel, go figure huh?  :D I'll have a look see, can't be too big a problem.

Offline Pack Rat

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2008, 10:28:22 AM »
Here's some pictures of the horn contact for the sport wheel. Really only a couple of things it can be, either the wire grounding where it comes up through the wheel (unlikely), or the spring plate, that's the round piece with the three big holes in it, is contacting the wheel somewhere. There's two ways that spring plate can go on, the right way and the wrong way. If you look at it from the side it is going to appear either concave (, or convex ,), depending on how you're holding it of course  :). Properly installed is convex or the arch facing up and the outer edge resting on the nylon trim ring. You also have to watch that the spring doesn't get caught between the nylon spacers  and the wheel. Those are shown in the second picture.









Offline El Matador

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2008, 12:11:49 PM »
I definitely made sure I had the spring plate on correctly.  As far as I can tell, everything went together exactly the same way it came out of the donor vehicle.

Obviously the operation of the horn depends on something making and breaking contact when the button is pressed and released.  The question is, where exactly is that point of contact?

There is a copper ring on the piece I replaced within the steering column, which touches the spring under the plunger, which touches the plunger itself, which is held against the spring plate, and that is in turn constantly touching the "cup" piece that the actual horn button clips into.  I don't see any part of this system where electrical continuity can ever be broken, yet somehow it seems to work in vehicles I've never messed with.  ::)
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Offline Mavericke

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2008, 01:17:57 PM »
Here's some pictures of the horn contact for the sport wheel. Really only a couple of things it can be, either the wire grounding where it comes up through the wheel (unlikely), or the spring plate, that's the round piece with the three big holes in it, is contacting the wheel somewhere. There's two ways that spring plate can go on, the right way and the wrong way. If you look at it from the side it is going to appear either concave (, or convex ,), depending on how you're holding it of course  :). Properly installed is convex or the arch facing up and the outer edge resting on the nylon trim ring. You also have to watch that the spring doesn't get caught between the nylon spacers  and the wheel. Those are shown in the second picture.











Oh gawd that brings back horrible memories from my first sx4.... someone had already put the sprt wheel on it and they didnt get the contacts right either... so I ordered a whole new assembly for it through autozone, swapped everything out and it still didnt work... I must have fiddled with it for days... I finally through all the tiny pieces in a bucket and said to heck with the horn... I still find some of those pieces lying around in junk drawers from time to time, LOL!
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Offline Pack Rat

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2008, 09:37:18 PM »
EM, if you can post a picture of yours. That spring plate and the piece the actual horn button attaches to must be isolated, they are what complete the circuit to ground. They are isolated by the plastic ring and the three spacers that the screws go through. I'll have a look at the other column I have in the shop, it still has the wheel attached. The pictures are from a steering wheel I had in the basement.

Offline trapperjack

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2008, 10:39:22 PM »
Just going off of memory here from reading about swapping to sport wheel, not actual experiance, isn't there a different spacer for the sport wheel that can cause horn problems if not installed?
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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2008, 11:24:13 PM »
EM, any luck on your horn problem? I'm watching this thread with interest as I'm about to do the same swap?  Thanks
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Offline El Matador

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2008, 11:55:44 PM »
Sorry, nothing further to report right now.  Been too busy with work to make any more progress on this.  I'd like to get it resolved before the car sells, though... if for no other reason than to be able to say I conquered it.  ;D
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Offline Jurjen

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2008, 10:57:13 AM »
Well, you know, Eagle horns have a mind of their own.
Had a functional/non-functional horn when I drove it to the test this year.
It was functional on the "moment supreme" (as the French say) but afterwards  8 out of 10 times, no show.
So, I got a steering wheel puller and a compression tool, but didn't repair it yet.
Guess what: it blows its horn every time I try it now ???
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Offline IowaEagle

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2008, 05:54:59 PM »
Let us know how the tools we sold you work out.  That is probably why it is now working.  Your Eagle knows you have new tools and now is teasing you.
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Offline Jurjen

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #12 on: April 15, 2009, 01:29:04 PM »
Quote
Well, you know, Eagle horns have a mind of their own
Unbelievable:
The horn has been working the whole year (I try that from time to time).
I went for inspection today and guess: It didn't work!
When I drove home, it started working again.
Have to go back tomorrow only to show him the horn is working.
I removed the steering wheel tonight and cleaned everthing up and put it back together again.
Still is working, but tomorrow morning??
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Offline IowaEagle

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #13 on: April 15, 2009, 05:59:52 PM »
I think your car is teasing you for some reason.  Is it April Fools Day in Holland today?
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Offline Mavericke

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #14 on: April 15, 2009, 06:44:22 PM »
yeah thats funny... I replaced the steering wheel in my old Eagle and never got the horn working again afterwards... no mater how many times I put it back together, I ended up with extra parts, LOL! The reason was because I took it apart one day... and didnt try to put it back together till several weeks later. Duh..

Still though... the sport needs a new wheel and the horn works... Im scared to replace it.

Good luck tomorrow Jurjen.
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85' AMC Eagle Wagon Sport (My Daily Driver)
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Offline Jurjen

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #15 on: April 16, 2009, 11:14:14 AM »
It didn't work this morning :'(.
So I went home to "repair" it.
Got al my tools out and was ready to tear the complete steering column to parts.
I wired the grey wire on the horn relay directly to ground and the horn sounded, so the relay was OK.
Then I tried the horn button, and guess: that worked too ??? ??? ???.
So I went to the inspection and they filled in the paperwork (they did the other testing yesterday already) and was out in five minutes.
I'm good for another year!
Tonite I re-crimped the spade connectors on the relay and put a little WD40 on them.
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Offline IowaEagle

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #16 on: April 16, 2009, 11:22:56 AM »
Your Eagle was just having fun with you.  Good to hear it is good.
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2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline Jurjen

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #17 on: April 16, 2009, 11:31:14 AM »
Strange thing is, it did exactly the same thing last year.
It must have a mind of it's own.
"sparrows fly in flocks, eagles fly alone"

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Offline IowaEagle

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #18 on: April 16, 2009, 11:34:56 AM »
So not only do elephants have good memory's, appears Eagles do too.  In my old '61 Rambler we finally had to install one of those dash board push buttons (you can still get them) since we never good the horn button to work at 100%.
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Not a Jeep.  Not a Car.  Its an AMC Eagle!

1982 Eagle SX/4 Sport;
1980 Concord DL;
1970 Ambassador 2 Dr HT, SST
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2008 Jeep Patriot Sport - Freedom Drive II

Offline timsamc

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #19 on: April 16, 2009, 02:28:21 PM »
Hey guys!
   The timing of this topic is wierd.  I JUST replaced my blue corporate steering wheel with a nice perforated leather sport wheel. (Almost amazingly a "near" perfect match to my blue Eagle interior!)  Anyway, all I had to do was take out the wire from the spring that was already in the column, bought a new horn contact repair kit from Napa ($4.99 part number BK7352822) and trim the new contact piece (it's aluminum) and also make sure you don't forget the nylon ring around it, otherwise the contact touches the spring.   Also, make sure that you have the horn spring piece (the FLAT looking round piece that makes contact with the horn contact facing the RIGHT direction!  It is ever so slightly bowed in one direction.  IIt must face OUT AWAY from the steering column, so that when you press the center section it "buckles" inward (sort of like the lid on a jar of jam).  It could be a simple as you might have that one piece facing the wrong way! Then screw on your steering wheel center with the green ring (with the three screws) and you should be good to go!   Hope this works for you!  :)
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Offline Jurjen

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #20 on: April 16, 2009, 02:36:09 PM »
Good job, you need an egg!
"sparrows fly in flocks, eagles fly alone"

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf0jpiW6tRI

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Offline timsamc

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #21 on: April 16, 2009, 02:41:47 PM »
Wow!  Cool!  Thank you!!   :)  :)
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Offline Jurjen

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #22 on: April 20, 2011, 11:55:55 AM »
See my older posts here. Summary: horn works whole year, but stops working for the yearly inspection.

Guess what: I drove to the test station and the horn was not working again.
The test guy knows my Eagle by now so I asked him, please do the test but note that the horn is not working.

So I got back there tonight and guess what: the Eagle passed the test and the horn was working fine.

This car is having fun with me.
"sparrows fly in flocks, eagles fly alone"

Eagle Wagon Limited 1983, Citroen C-Crosser 2010, Triumph Bonneville 1969, Yamaha XJR1300 1999, Yamaha TX750 1973

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf0jpiW6tRI

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Offline Whuntmore

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #23 on: April 20, 2011, 07:07:57 PM »
I want to know if El Matador figured it out, and fixed it. 

Could you chime in here EM, and let us know what happened? 

Offline El Matador

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Re: Steering wheel swap and horn problems
« Reply #24 on: April 20, 2011, 10:11:48 PM »
No, I never did figure it out in either case.

The first time, with the Matador, I just switched back to the original wheel.  The second time, with the Eagle, I unplugged the horn relay and left it without a horn.  Duane has that car now, I don't know if he did anything further with it.
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1980 Concord 4 door
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