73, Dark Blue 454

I have a weird problem on one of the 73's with a Tilt & Telescopic steering column. When the steering wheel is in it's full forward position (telescopic) the horn engages and won't go off. If I pull the wheel just a fraction toward me (the driver) the horn quits and functions as it should.

I'm about to remove the horn button and dive it, but I didn't know what to look for.

Any ideas? Please advise and thanks!

jnb5101

ok, i can't pass this one up. the easy solution is obvious!
on the other hand, i'll take a guess and say that the rubber stop on the column may have been removed, and when the wheel is pushed forward, it compresses the contact and closes the circuit.

73, Dark Blue 454

Agree,..the fix is simple,..like when a guy goes to the doctor and says "doc, it hurts when I move my arm like this",..and of course the doc says "don't move your arm like that".

Good theory jnb.

I'll dig in,..see if I can get her to work as she was designed.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

0Willcox Corvette

I think the first thing I'd look at is the upper contact.



Check the rivets between the two steel plates.. see one of them is broke. If you remove this contact from the steering column... then try to tilt it forward and see if the horn still blows this way.

Then, I'd check the lower contact.



If all looks good there.. then you are going to have to dig deeper..

quite possible this critter is the problem too..



Willcox

72LS1Vette

Willcox,

Have you ever verified that your nylon rivets work correctly? The ones I bought were not formed correcly and didn't expand when the pin was pushed through so they were useless. I found a workaround at the local parts store and your rivets were so inexpensive that it wasn't worth complaining about but you might want to check the rivets to make sure they do what they are supposed to.

I also bought the other parts in the pics and they are working fine.



Rick B.

73, Dark Blue 454

Wilcox,..thanks for the ideas. Although, it's not the tilt function that engages the horn, it's the telescopic function.

When I restored this car, all the parts in your photos above were replaced, but I'll inspect each.

Thanks again for the photos and the tips.

0Willcox Corvette

Rick..

I'll check them again... but I have used them in the past with no problems. That doesn't mean something changed on them since. For me personally.. it's been a while since I did this. Defiantly worth checking in to and I will do this Monday.

Jim Shea

It sounds to me as if the big spring that is part of the lower contact asm (#1) is touching a metal part of the steering column. When you telescope the steering wheel all the way forward, the spring is compressed.


If the plastic c-clip retainer/insulator is cracked and broken, the spring may be contacting the locking plate or other metal column parts. BTW, the retainer is available from GM dealers #7808385 or from various Corvette suppliers.

Or if the spring is distorted for some reason, it could be cocked and touching other metal parts of the steering column when you telescope the steering wheel all the way forward. Duct tape applied to some of the coils of the big spring might insulate the spring from any metal contact. Don't place tape on the lower part of the spring because the last coil must contact one or more of the three brass contacts that are exposed between the spokes of the retainer in order for the horn to work.

The spring should be sitting central on the plastic retainer. No part of the spring should be touching the toothed locking plate. No part of the spring should be touching the steering shaft. I failed to notice earlier that you said that you had replaced the plastic retainer. Are you sure that you installed the new one correctly?
Jim

73, Dark Blue 454

Jim,..thanks for chiming in and thanks for the photos!!!

The plastic retainer is original, but in good shape. But, I'll look at the spring and it's position,..see if it's contacting anything metal (grounding out).

Thanks again!