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Horn Problem on '66 Bronco - Getting Power to Both Contacts When Steering Wheel is On

dsenatore

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2002
Messages
94
Loc.
East Walpole
Trying to get the horn working on my 66 Bronco which hasn't worked since I got it in 2020. Can't verify for sure if it's the correct steering wheel but it's got the 2 concentric contact rings on the back side. Stock column and what may be a new/replaced column harness but it looks correct. It has the 2 spring loaded contact posts on the harness. With steering wheel off, I get 12.53 volts to the inner spring loaded contact w/yellow wire. Outer contact w/blue wire has no voltage. Seems correct, no? When I put the steering wheel on I end up getting the same 12.53 volts to both horn button contacts on the front of the wheel which then sends power to the horn, BEEEP! The contacts have the plastic insulators and are in good shape.
I have a spare aftermarket reproduction wheel and and if I switch the inner ring to that I get the same result. Something is completing the circuit but can't figure it out. Could both wheels be for the later model with horn relay and are not compatible with the older 2 contact style? Odd that they can still accept the inner ring if that's the case.
I cannot find any horn relay and the same blue w/yellow wire from the dash harness goes to the horn.
I added a pic with the inner ring removed as well. This is the Ford wheel.
Thanks,
David
 

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Last edited:

EPB72

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Bronco Guru
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Jul 13, 2019
Messages
1,211
Loc.
Pleasant Hill, CA
OE would have no relay , I think 74 when they used a relay .. the horn honks with wheel installed or just power through horn contacts .. meaning from horn button to horns is ok? ,, I’d check continuity between both contact rings on steering wheel ,,
 

Oldtimer

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Jr. Member with Sr. moments
Joined
Feb 4, 2005
Messages
1,795
Loc.
Sunnyvale, CA
When I put the steering wheel on I end up getting the same 12.53 volts to both horn button contacts on the front of the wheel . . . spare aftermarket reproduction wheel and and if I switch the inner ring to that I get the same result.

The two contact rings need to be electrically isolated from each other when installed on steering wheel.

Are there, were there, should there be, plastic bushing / washers insulating the attach screws in these holes?

1752265381595.png
 
OP
OP
D

dsenatore

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2002
Messages
94
Loc.
East Walpole
Errr, I think I figured it out. There is no continuity between the rings so all good there. The inner ring is the one that's energized so both horn button contacts on the outside should show equal voltage since they're both part of the inner ring. I played with the horn button and that seems to have been the issue. I got it to work but had to wiggle the button as I pressed it. I had also taken the horn off and and cleaned it. There was some debris inside that looked like it may have been an insect nest at some point. Anyways, thanks for the help.The continuity test really got me on the right path.
Have a great weekend!
 
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