Horn not working, replaced steering wheel horn contact, still no horn, clock spring!!

[awbooth]

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I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado, 4x4, 4.8 liter K1500.
My horn stopped working when pushing on the air bag. It works once out of 50 tries, nightmare. I did research and everything pointed to replacing the steering wheel horn contact. I purchased a Dorman 924-089 steering wheel horn contact, installed it, no better. Than I cleaned the copper pieces that are screwed to the steering wheel which is where the horn contact makes contact with the copper pieces which then sends the signal to the spring that plugs into the clock spring...
Well, that didn't work for shxt!
So yes, I know, I need to replace the clock spring. Good times.
Has anyone tried to re-position their old clock spring? Is that even an option? Will replacing the clock spring resolve the horn issue?
I have tested both horns on the truck multiple times and they work perfectly.
Any help would be awesome!! Not sure where to buy a clock spring, I won't buy a used one on Ebay, that's a waste of money.
Thank you
Booth

[Supreme Pizza]

2 hours ago, awbooth said:

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I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado, 4x4, 4.8 liter K1500.
My horn stopped working when pushing on the air bag. It works once out of 50 tries, nightmare. I did research and everything pointed to replacing the steering wheel horn contact. I purchased a Dorman 924-089 steering wheel horn contact, installed it, no better. Than I cleaned the copper pieces that are screwed to the steering wheel which is where the horn contact makes contact with the copper pieces which then sends the signal to the spring that plugs into the clock spring...
Well, that didn't work for shxt!
So yes, I know, I need to replace the clock spring. Good times.
Has anyone tried to re-position their old clock spring? Is that even an option? Will replacing the clock spring resolve the horn issue?
I have tested both horns on the truck multiple times and they work perfectly.
Any help would be awesome!! Not sure where to buy a clock spring, I won't buy a used one on Ebay, that's a waste of money.
Thank you
Booth

 

 

 

 

 

Why not just install a separate horn button?

 

 

 

 

 

[awbooth]

GENIUS! But the brain says to react by hitting the airbag horn

 

[Supreme Pizza]

10 minutes ago, awbooth said:

GENIUS! But the brain says to react by hitting the airbag horn

 

 

 

 

Ya just got to retrain the brain. With the proper motivation, anything is possible.

 

 

 

 

 

[richard wysong]

when you ground the connector that the horn contact from the airbag goes to does the horn blow? if so you need a new airbag

[richard wysong]

just went through this same thing with my truck that doesn't have airbag. would blow only once in a while. replaced the whole steering column due to directional issues and still had the same problem with the horn, changed the horn pad, good as new

[richard wysong]

Im not positive but I believe the horn still goes thru the directional switch on yours not the clockspring which does the airbag and accessory controls

[awbooth]

Ok, so I just worked on it and this is what I did..

I removed the airbag, cleaned all the contact leads, cleaned the copper contacts that are screwed to the steering wheel that the horn contacts touch when pushing the airbag. I then kept the airbag plugged in but off to the side. Hooked up the battery, walked over to the steering wheel and manually pushed the horn metal spring pieces to activate the horn and it works every time. I pushed the top left of the connector, top right, bottom left, bottom right-horn went off no problem every single time...

BUT!!!! when I re-install the airbag back onto the steering wheel it works 1 out of 50 times just like before.

Is there a trick to make the horn work after installing the airbag back onto the wheel? I'm assuming the clockspring is ok as the yellow part of the clockspring was in the window, the 2 small arrows lined up on the clockspring.. What a mess. I'm trying to respond to everyone's comment as this forum doesn't allow me to respond to each message. I'll wait to hear back, thx!

Anthony 

4E709D02-13AF-437F-BDD9-05AF34137238.heic A71DD8B2-BDD8-4A4F-97F2-E16BE29596ED.heic

[awbooth]

Someone wrote directional switch... Interesting, no idea what the directional switch is or where it is located... any advice would be awesome. I will say that the spring connector that attaches to both of the horn Dorman 924-089 Steering Wheel Horn Contact pieces plugs right into the clockspring behind the steering wheel so I'm assuming the horn signal goes through the clockspring.

As I said, the weird part is when the airbag is off the steering wheel I'm able to push in the steering wheel horn contacts and it sets the horn off perfectly. Horn works everytime however once the air bag is plugged back into the steering wheel the horn doesn't work barely ever. Keep in mind I've tried pushing on the airbag pretty hard, nothing!

Something is not right....

Someone mentioned replacing the airbag... is that because the two metal tabs on the airbag that plug into the horn contacts are no longer grounded? 

[richard wysong]

its because the mechanism inside the airbag that completes the circuit when you push on it to blow the horn is broken. hook an ohm meter to the connectors to check . should be 0 when you press to blow if its working, any yellow wires/connectors are airbag related, be CAREFUL!!!!

[awbooth]

Ok everyone! First off thx for all your responses. Appreciate you all.

I have the solution which is going to be hard to believe but it worked.

Disconnect the battery. Wait 15 minutes. Remove the air bag, tricky as you need a flat blade screwdriver to move the horn contact mechanisms, 2 latches behind the steering wheel releases the airbag. Unplug airbag, sit to the side in a safe place.

Remove the red horn contact wire that plugs through the steering wheel clockspring area. Remove center nut, use steering wheel puller, remove steering wheel. Remove upper and lower column covers. Remove the 2 torx screws holding down the multipurpose turn signal mechanism. Clean the brass plunger ring that bounces in and out of the back of turn signal mechanism. This plunger rides on the back of a GREEN RING which has a brass plate going around the back of the entire clockspring location. Clean the brass ring that sits behind the clockspring. Use electric grease on the brass ring. Now you have 2 choices. You can purchase a new signal /wiper/ cruise control mechanism as the new part will come with a new brass plunger which is NOT worn down from years of getting worn down every single time you turn your wheel, OR.. you can apply a small dab of solder on the tip of that brass plunger, carefully install the signal arm bag on the column and gently pressing the brass plunger(with new solder on the tip)behind the brass circle plate, re-install the torx screws, re-install everything in reverse. The horn works perfectly every time now!!!!!!!

Couple things to consider as well. You should replace the 2 horn contact leads that mount to the steering wheel as the red springy part does get dirty and wears out. I initially thought that was the problem but replacing it didn't work. However you have everything apart so you might as well replace them.

I have taken in consideration the spot of solder I applied to the brass tab/plunger will wear down over time but I really don't give a ******. The point is... it's fixed! On to the next project..... 

[John Biggs]

@awbooth (or someone who knows),   I suspect I have the same issue you did. Can you elaborate some more about this brass ring.  I anticipate 

1) I have to remove the clock spring to get at the brass ring

2) the plunger that goes through the steering wheel contacts one side of the brass ring.

3) there is a plunger on the turn signal assembly that touches the other side of the brass ring bringing part of the horn relay circuit out to the ground contact assembly behind the air bag.

4) do I need any tools to remove the brass ring so I can clean both sides of it and clean the contact on the turn signal assembly? or does it simply lift out once the clock spring is removed?

5) did you solder tip of the turn signal assembly plunger pin to extend it, or the tip of the white plastic assembly with two red wires, or both? (once I have gotten that much apart I intend to do both - given they are both spring assemblies it cant hurt (other than the worn filaments of solder getting into something else).

 

Thanks, search the web and can not find a good image of this part of the assembly - yours is the best description of this part of the intermittent horn diagnostic/fix solutions I have found (thanks much!)