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From: Bruce L. Bergman on 2 May 2007 12:28
On Wed, 2 May 2007 09:26:13 -0500, "jp2express"
<jp2mail-tempforum(a)noSpamyahoo.com> wrote:
>"Bruce L. Bergman" wrote

>> The older (80's and back IIRC) trucks don't have a horn relay - the
>> clue is the horn has a 2-wire connector and neither one is grounded.
>>
>> One horn lead goes to constant +12 battery through a fuse, and the
>> other goes to the horn ring brush assembly, through the steering wheel
>> slip ring and then to the horn button switch.
>>
>> Ground is through the steering column, and if there is a bad ground
>> strap or bond jumper that will cause an intermittent horn too.
>
>Bruce,
>
>So, I take it that under normal conditions, both of the wires going to the
>horn will have +12VDC on them.
>
>Is this correct?

If it's the 'no relay' style connections, correct. If it has a horn
relay and a good ground to the horn, both sides of the horn will be at
ground.

>The act of "honking the horn" just provides a ground for the 12V. Still
>correct?

Yup. It's a little harder on the horn switch inside the steering
wheel because it's carrying current and will arc a little at the
contact points, but it's still 'lifetime' considering that you really
don't use the horn that often...

(People in urban areas with 50% ESL or No English At All, and/or No
License Or Insurance At All drivers excepted. They just Point and
Pray, and you try to stay out of their way.)

When the cars had one little horn that only draws 5 Amps or so, that
worked fine, and saved them parts money and lowered the cost of the
car. Go to two louder horns, and then the added current overwhelmed
the 'no relay' system and they had to switch over.

>I replaced the little brass horn pin in the steering column because it was
>worn away.

That's normal, because nobody ever lubes them and the ring is a bear
to get at to clean off. Done a few myself.

>The steering column does make a lot of squeaking noises when I turn the
>wheel. Is there something in there I could lubricate? Should it not be
>lubricated, but dusted?
>
>Just looking for more ideas to try, that's all. And I don't want to
>unknowingly break something.

Silicone spray lubricant, or a graphite and silicone based lock lube
like 'Lock Ease'. You need the upper steering column "beauty cover"
off to get close, the extension spray tube to get the lube in the
right spot, and a small hand inspection mirror to see where you're
aiming it, unless you're a contortionist...

You don't want a regular grease there to attract dust and grit out
of the air to stick to the ring, that would only make the brush wear
worse.

And you want to use silicone lubricants very sparingly and precisely
in your life - they get tracked everywhere, last practically forever,
are a bear to clean off surfaces (IF you know they are there in the
first place), and then you go to paint or glue that surface and the
paint fish-eyes and/or the glue doesn't stick... Slop them on
everything with reckless abandon, and you /will/ make enemies.

--<< Bruce >>--

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