67 Dart horn problems

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smitty040

smitty040

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I've been trying to tackle a horn issue and need some direction. So far I've established that the horns and relay both work.

I have removed the steering wheel and took steel wool to the copper ring and spring wheel under the steering wheel before putting the wheel back on.

I've disconnected the horn switch and took a lead directly from the negitive side of the battery and touched the black wire that connects to the switch and the horn sounds.

I can not make the horn sound by simply touching the steering wheel retaining nut/shaft with the black wire.

I took a jump wire and created a ground wire from the column cover bolt to stud as shown in the service manual and still nothing.

Took an alligator clip wire from the bottom of the dash and touched the black horn wire and the horn sounds. Makes me assume the dash is grounded.

I'm pretty much at a loss of where to go from here. Any help would be great!

Thanks!
 
I think you need a ground strap from the steering column to the dash. I had a similar problem with mine. I just used a heavy wire with crimped on eyelets.
 
smitty040 said:
Took an alligator clip wire from the bottom of the dash and touched the black horn wire and the horn sounds. Makes me assume the dash is grounded.

I'm pretty much at a loss of where to go from here. Any help would be great!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Where exactly did you connect to the black for this test? Up in the column? or down at the column connector?

It SOUNDS like the trouble is right there in the column, say, between the black at the TS column connector and the horn switch. Most likely in the brush/ roller under the wheel. You have the wheel off?
 
My a/c vents are out of the car so I attached the yellow alligator wire to the stud and touched the horn wire and it works. I can take the wheel back off if you have another theory?
 

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Sorry I can't tell what you are doing there
 
This is the wire that was connected to the horn switch that was attached to the chrome horn ring of the steering wheel. If I ground that black wire on anything (battery, dash, even turn signal lever) the horns sound.

The horn will not sound by just touching the wire on the center stud and nut.
 

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Then the column may not be grounding. Try a jumper wire from the column proper to the dash frame. Does the column shaft seem to have excessive play up/ down, sideways?
 
There is almost no play in the wheel side to side or up and down.

Where would be a good place for a jumper wire?

I've tried an alligator clip wire from a known ground to the stud holding the column bracket with no luck. I also have a ground strap temporarily bolted in place as show on this diagram.
 

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if the black horn wire wont ground to the column I don't think the switch is the issue at this time of the diagnosis correct? At this time I don't have the switch attached.
 
Ground from column to under dash support - chassis ground should do it. Otherwise you have a cut / pinched off black wire in the column between the connector under the dash and the end of the column under the horn cap.
 
I know I have a good wire all the way to the switch as the horns would not sound that far along the circuit if the wiring was bad. I do have a bit of surface rust under the dash so I hope getting under the dash and cleaning a good contact point and then cleaning a good contact point on the column will fix the issue. Any suggestions on the best point to tie into on the column? I know the factory diagram shows using 1 of the 4 bolts that hold the column bracket on.
 
One of the four bolts is where mine is and it works fine. Other end lands on the mounting stud for the column bracket. That is actually the same ground point I use for all my interior electronics - gauges / stereo / shift light etc...
 
No such luck tonight. I tried a jump wire from one of the 4 column mounting bolts to the mounting stud. Then from mounting bolt to the dash to body bolt behind the kick panel and no dice.
 
Ironic part is all of the common ground issue problems usually associated with the horn issue I don't have. All gauges, dash lights, indicator light all work.
 
Wish I could offer more. This is one of those "you had to be there" LOL

Might be time to pull the wheel if you have not
 

Maybe I'm just not getting a strong enough ground? I know they painted the engine bay. May try to run another ground strap to one of the heater mounting screws and clean that area of paint. The only grounds I can see right now are the bell housing to blower motor and engine block to battery
 
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