[mwritter]

When I bought my ’65 Tempest (now a GTO clone), it had a new front wiring harness, but no horn relay, and no horns. There was an aftermarket cheapo wood wheel as well. Living where I do, I need horns…almost every day (we have about 50% uninsured, illegal motorists around here).

I began by adding horns from a parts car, and a repro horn relay from PY. Much to my surprise, I plugged things in and the horns worked right away. Soon thereafter the horns began working only when the wheel was straight. Eventually, the horns blew only when the car was turning, which was somewhat amusing. This led me to unplug the relay.

Last night, I finally got around to installing my complete ’65 wood wheel kit, hoping it would make things look better (it does) and solve the horn problem as well. This kit included the new horn contact kit for under the collar (the $60 piece), but not the small spring unit that’s in the column (the $5 kit).

When I removed the aftermarket wheel, there was a small wire which hooked up to a tab on the horn contact. I removed everything down to the canceling cam. The install of the new wheel went smoothly, but the horns would not work when I was done. And I installed everything using my original shop manual. It was late and I gave up for the night. When I started her up and backed out of the garage, the horn started blowing again as the wheel turned, just as with the old setup.

Anyone have any idea what’s wrong? I am planning on ordering the $5 horn spring kit from PY, will that solve the problem? I am perplexed because I have the same problem, despite two entirely different wheel kits.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[mwritter]

When I bought my ’65 Tempest (now a GTO clone), it had a new front wiring harness, but no horn relay, and no horns. There was an aftermarket cheapo wood wheel as well. Living where I do, I need horns…almost every day (we have about 50% uninsured, illegal motorists around here).

I began by adding horns from a parts car, and a repro horn relay from PY. Much to my surprise, I plugged things in and the horns worked right away. Soon thereafter the horns began working only when the wheel was straight. Eventually, the horns blew only when the car was turning, which was somewhat amusing. This led me to unplug the relay.

Last night, I finally got around to installing my complete ’65 wood wheel kit, hoping it would make things look better (it does) and solve the horn problem as well. This kit included the new horn contact kit for under the collar (the $60 piece), but not the small spring unit that’s in the column (the $5 kit).

When I removed the aftermarket wheel, there was a small wire which hooked up to a tab on the horn contact. I removed everything down to the canceling cam. The install of the new wheel went smoothly, but the horns would not work when I was done. And I installed everything using my original shop manual. It was late and I gave up for the night. When I started her up and backed out of the garage, the horn started blowing again as the wheel turned, just as with the old setup.

Anyone have any idea what’s wrong? I am planning on ordering the $5 horn spring kit from PY, will that solve the problem? I am perplexed because I have the same problem, despite two entirely different wheel kits.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Frank R]

Sounds like it could be the signal light switch.
Their is a copper button that sticks up from the switch and makes contact with the horn contact ring. The spring wears out and the button will not make good contact. I would take it appart and see if the button pushes in and pops back out.

[RAJNWDY]

Sorry Frank but the horn wire is all alone in the column, it is part of the same ribbon wire that comes up the column but does not have anything to do with the turn signal switch. What is happening is that the wire coming up by the shaft is shorting to ground in there someplace. I would take a look at the brass ring that the wheel connection rub's against. Something in the upper cup is shorting or has rubbed a bare spot in the wire. When it happens it is embarassing, I just wave like I know the people I just honked at!!!

[Frank R]

EMD201 The problem might very well be the wire.
That wire comes from the horn contact button on the signal light switch runs down the column then it connects to the horn relay. So to say that it has nothing to do with the horn ???