I replaced the ignition tumbler a while back due to a lost key. When I dropped the steering wheel and the housing I found a bunch of plastic parts that appear to have been a ring at one point. The horn wasn't working, So I assume it is part of the electrical circuit / points in the horn relay in the column. I did not replace it and a month or so later the horn starts working out of the blue. Then the other night, the horn goes off on its own in the garage. My wife said "your girl friend in the garage is calling.... . I could not get it to go off, so I pulled the female electrical connector at the horn itself. I go out to look it all over today, and the battery is dead. I pull the column back apart and now realize that plastic ring probably needed to go back in, and that it probably has something to do with the column spring that is just dangling around. As I pull back and advance he T/T wheel hub, the spring is making contact with the three contacts and causing the horn to honk. I can find the lock rings, shims, hubs and spacers online, but cannot find this plastic part or even where it goes. Any info is appreciated.

 

The battery was dead because the horn relay was energized with the horn button thinking you wanted to make it honk.

There are a few plastic parts in there- the big one is the retainer for the lock on the T&T. It usually breaks and then there is no insulator for the horn button.
jimshea.corvettefaq.com

Or something like that- every thing you ever wanted to know about T&T columns.

 

Thanks Tim.

 

This part is known as the c-clip retainer. And it also insulates the big telescoping spring from contacting steering column metal parts other than the brass horn contacts. This is the Zip Products part but it is also available from many other suppliers.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/catalog/...category/7560/
Here is the part installed.

I think that the other broken plastic and metal parts are from your key buzzer switch. I found it at Corvette Central. Here is a link:
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....5Z50000050G~~~

Jim

Jim

 

Thanks Jim. That trash I fished out of the column, and in all those pieces really left me wondering what the part was supposed to look like. Will me ordering the part in the morning.

 

Jim

I've ordered this Cancelling Cam Retainer from ZIP. It has been on backorder for a month now. Already missed 2 car shows and Mardi Gras and don't want to miss any more. I've searched the internet for this part as ZIP lists it (Turning Signal Cancelling Cam Plastic Plastic Retainer) and can't find it. I've also tried shortening the search to Cancelling Cam Retainer. I get several hits for "Cancelling Cam" but that is a different part. Can you please help with either some other sites that have this part or my search efforts?
My Corvette is a 1981

Thanks
Kevin7

 

Kevin,
Here is a Bubba fix. Only use in desperation and only until you can get a replacement from someplace.

I had my T&T column apart (many years ago). Indeed my plastic retainer came apart in many pieces. I thought that its only function was to isolate the big telescope spring from grounding on metal steering column parts.

NOTE - the plastic retainer is called a RETAINER for a reason. There is a large c-clip that acts as a stop when you telescope your steering wheel rearward toward the driver. If the c-clip becomes disengaged from the steering shaft, the whole steering wheel and upper steering shaft can come completely out of the steering column!!!! (i.e. Possibly while driving down the road.)

Back to my story. I was working on my 1975 T&T column on a Friday night. When I found the broken retainer, I couldn't locate a replacement and I also had a show the next day. So Bubba kicked-in.

I took some duct tape and applied it to the face of the toothed locking plate. I then took an Exacto knife and carefully trimmed away the tape from the three brass horn contacts sticking up through the locking plate. Also make sure that you place tape over the c-clip so that it cannot migrate out of engagement. This should serve as a very temporary short-term fix until you locate a new plastic retainer.

Please insure that this is just a temporary fix. Duct tape can become brittle if left in place for a long period.

One last fact, in order for the steering wheel and upper shaft to seperate from the steering column, you would have to be in the telescoping mode. Most people set the telescope feature once and then forget it. This is good because with the telescoping feature "LOCKED" the steering wheel and upper shaft will not seperate from the steering column. This is good!

However, it might make you lazy and forget to disassemble your T&T column, remove the duct tape, and replace it with a fresh, new, plastic retainer. THIS IS VERY BAD!

Jim

 

You must have missed us on the checked list..

If you need the retainer you'll find them here:

http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...ords=INSULATOR

If you need the cam... they are here.

New
http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...4&keywords=cam

Used original in great shape
http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...1&keywords=CAM


Willcox

 

Thanks Jim!

 

HELL YES!!! Going to order this minute! Thanks a bunch Willcox!

 

Ok i just clicked on the link, i have that part. The part that needs replacing is the plastic retainer for this. It gets very brittle over time and this is a 1981 so it basically fell apart when I removed it. Click on this link to see the part.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/catalog/...category/7957/

 

OK my bad, i missed the first link you posted. That is indeed the part i need. THANKS A LOT!

 

Here is a link to ebay where I got mine.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1982-corvette-horn-contact-carrier-retainer-NEW-C3-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-/151439526560?fits=Year%3A1981%7CModel%3ACorvette&hash=item23427fcaa0&vxp=mtr

 

Jim Shea was spot on in his papers - my C-Clip retainer/insulator was broken and upside down!

Part numbers are a bit out of date, but for anyone who later stumbles on this thread, I found the part at Zip Corvette under the name "Turn Signal Cancelling Cam Plastic Retainer," SKU 5-17. Then while stumbling around looking around for a replacement horn contact, I found one one on Amazon, who called it a Horn Contact Retainer. Ecklers had two (one more than twice the price for no discernible reason) using that term.

Good luck!