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Electricy problems, horn not working??

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Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#641952
Hi.
I am experiencing electrical gremlins and can't work out the best fix.
The horn circut isn't working. I hooked the clips attached to the horn to a test lamp to suss out why the horn doesn't work and the lights won't come on.
I have checked for blown fuses and there are none.
I have removed horn ring (1st time in 40 years going by the dust & grime) and cleaned out the contacts etc. and to no avail.
The positive wire sparks when in contact with the bumper bar so there is elecricity flowing from somewhere but the negative wire or horn ring contacts are doing sweet FA.
Has anyone got any suggestions or help?
Not having a functioning horn is really making my Tourettes *(&^%^%$# noticable to fellow commuters😎
- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#641962
Have you got the wire from the horn button and flicked it on the metal steering column? No beep either?

does the horn work if you get that wire, and get another wire and extend it out to earth somewhere else on the body? (still no work?)

If it beeps on the body, and not on the steering column, then the earth for the column is poor.
If it doesn't beep on the body metal either, then it would be that wire. might have to put a fresh one, unless you can suss the direct prob. Being an old wire thats always spinning with the steering wheel for the last 40 yrs, they can develope fissures or breakages from within the insulation, or it could just be the terminals at the other end. Dog of a job to put together on a fully assembled type 1 (if ur impatient like me), but not sure what its like on a notch.

If you were to leave that sparkin wire you had that u rubbed on the bumper from ur horn (leave it on the horn), and you unplugged the earth wire from the horn and replaced it with a test wire that you could earth on the body, does the horn toot then?

Tell us how u go. It will help locate the issue.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

Pumba Veteran Volks Folk

2,138 posts · joined Jan 2007 ·

#641963
Horn broken, use finger.😂😂
69 Beetle
66 Beetle
56 Beetle

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#642002
bajachris88 wrote:Have you got the wire from the horn button and flicked it on the metal steering column? No beep either?

Nope, nothing?

does the horn work if you get that wire, and get another wire and extend it out to earth somewhere else on the body? (still no work?)

Havn't tried that but if there is a break in the wire (in steering column) it wouldn't work anyway?

If it beeps on the body, and not on the steering column, then the earth for the column is poor.
If it doesn't beep on the body metal either, then it would be that wire. might have to put a fresh one, unless you can suss the direct prob. Being an old wire thats always spinning with the steering wheel for the last 40 yrs, they can develope fissures or breakages from within the insulation, or it could just be the terminals at the other end. Dog of a job to put together on a fully assembled type 1 (if ur impatient like me), but not sure what its like on a notch.

Yep - Bugger of a job!!🤪 I was hopin that there would be another soloution. I think the earth is not earthing properly. I just wanted to try the easy way out rather than to muck about with the steering column wire!

If you were to leave that sparkin wire you had that u rubbed on the bumper from ur horn (leave it on the horn), and you unplugged the earth wire from the horn and replaced it with a test wire that you could earth on the body, does the horn toot then?

I havn't tried but I get what you are trying to do and I will try tommorow and see how it goes (I sound like a tryhard looking for a roundtuit!)😂



Tell us how u go. It will help locate the issue.
Will do!! Cheers.
Damn auto elecy only wants to zap me when I am unsuspecting. It gets all nervous when it knows I am on to it!🤘
- Adam.
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#642005
vwmad wrote:Horn broken, use finger.😂😂
Finger worn out and running out of expletives!!!😂

"OH CRAP!!!" just isn't cutting it in this day and age!🤓
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#642042
bajachris88 wrote:Have you got the wire from the horn button and flicked it on the metal steering column? No beep either?

does the horn work if you get that wire, and get another wire and extend it out to earth somewhere else on the body? (still no work?)

If it beeps on the body, and not on the steering column, then the earth for the column is poor.
If it doesn't beep on the body metal either, then it would be that wire. might have to put a fresh one, unless you can suss the direct prob. Being an old wire thats always spinning with the steering wheel for the last 40 yrs, they can develope fissures or breakages from within the insulation, or it could just be the terminals at the other end. Dog of a job to put together on a fully assembled type 1 (if ur impatient like me), but not sure what its like on a notch.

If you were to leave that sparkin wire you had that u rubbed on the bumper from ur horn (leave it on the horn), and you unplugged the earth wire from the horn and replaced it with a test wire that you could earth on the body, does the horn toot then?

Tell us how u go. It will help locate the issue.
The wire doesn't twist to break any of the strands. The wire totally turns with the steering rod. Check that the wire hasn't been pulled off or a loose fit on the terminal on the rubber coupling to the steering box.

Also, what lights aren't working as well??

DH

greedy53 Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,062 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#642088
the horn has a constant positive to it and an earth the contacts when you press horn sounds like eart broken it goes through the steering colum
good luck
👍👍😂🙅🥷😬🤓

OZ Towdster Keen to finish some projects

1,921 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#642095
Check that the earth wire feed to the horn that plugs to the bottom end of the OUTER steering column has not come unplugged.
You will need to remove the front drivers side wheel to veiw this conection and wire as it plugs in on the top side of the columnn Outer as it protrudes through the fire wall above the brake master cylinder.
Don't let body work get in the way of real suspension travel

Notch Nut Custom Title Time!

1,011 posts · joined Apr 2006 ·

#642157
I just checked the earth connection at the steering column.
It is very dirty and a bit corroded. I will clean when I have more light and space.
Def. a job to do with either a hoist, fuel tank removed or drivers wheel off.
There is positive electricity but I am sure that there is a poor negative connection somewhere along the flow of wires.

Where does the negative wire go from the steering column connection to the horn wire? There has to be another connection somewhere that I am missing? If that is the case then I think that connection is the problem?

Cheers all.
- Adam
If you can't fix it with a hammer,
you have an electrical problem....

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#642187
Adam. If it is a Type 3, the wire to the horn from the fuse box is the positive one (live). The earth wire attached to the horn button goes down the centre of the steering shaft to a terminal on the bolt through the rubber coupling which attaches the steering shaft to the steering box which earths on the chassis. You can see this if you remove the front right wheel. There could also be another earth wire somewhere around the column tube as this is insulated by a rubber bush in the firewall plus one at the ignition switch.

As I only have the imported version, the OZ one may be slightly different but I can't remember.

Try the horn by just connecting the earth at the horn to the chassis and see if that works. It may not be at the column/button where the problem is.

DH